Law Enforcement and Agencies for the Management of Mun River Basin

Abstract

          The main problems of the Mun River Basin are drought, flooding, polluted watershed, and climate change from global warming. Such problems affect people’s way of life and water utilization in the watershed in 10 provinces of the north-eastern region where the watershed flows through. The research objective is to analyze the laws applicable to the management of those problems to determine the existence of applicable laws in management or create a strategy to solve those problems. The analysis is descriptive. The research methodology is documentary legal research and related information.

          The research results found that to creating additional water reservoirs can solve drought and flooding problems with legal support, namely Groundwater Act B.E.2520; Provincial Waterworks Act B.E.2522; People Irrigation Act B.E.2482; Royal Irrigation Act B.E.2485. Correction and prevention of wastewater from pollution contamination under the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act B.E.2535; Factory Act B.E.2535. Management of water obstructions, dumping of garbage, sewage, and oil under Act on Navigation in Thai Waters B.E.2456; Act on Maintaining Cleanliness and Orderliness of the Country B.E.2535. Dredging surface water resources under Act on Administration of State Affairs B.E.2534. To manage the problems of Global warming by increasing the area for planting perennial trees by reforming the land for agriculture under Agricultural Land Readjustment Act B.E.2015. Increasing forest area under the Forest Plantation Act B.E.2535. Water resource management in Mun River Basin under Water Resources Act B.E.2561

          The research recommended critical surveying areas from groundwater drilling to designate a no-drill zone. This designation is to educate the public on groundwater drilling techniques, increase the community water supply system, educate community leaders on the maintenance of the system, and encourage local people to build commercial irrigation in a cooperative form. There should be strict enforcement of water pollution laws, and a community wastewater treatment system should be established in a wastewater crisis area. The Ministry of Interior shall set a policy for removing water hyacinths and water weeds and strictly adhere to them. Use land reform and land reform as a mechanism to set aside the area for planting perennial trees and promoting forest plantation to reduce global warming.