On 22-23 April, 2009, a delegation of 12 representatives of the Red-Thai Binh RBO (RRBO) paid a study visit to Department of Water Resources and Bang Pakong River Basin Committee (Thailand). The delegation was led by Dr. To Trung Nghia, Director of Institute of Water Resources Planning cum Head of the RRBO Office.
Bang Pakong river basin is in the northeast of Thailand. It faces problems such as land use; water shortage; salinization; flood; insufficiency of public utilities system; water quality; and degradation of ecosystem which are quite similar to those in the Red-Thai Binh river basin in Vietnam.
Bang Pakong River Basin Committee is one of the strongest RBOs in Thailand and is famous with the Bang Pakong dialogue initiative which involves a participatory process for water-related decision making and implementation. That’s the reason why the delegation of the RRBO selected Bang Pakong river basin for its study visit.
During the study visit, the delegation was received by Mr. Thanade Dawasuwan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Water Resources and his staffs. Ms. Sukontha Aekaraj, Director of the Foreign Relations and International Cooperation Division had presentations on Bang Pakong physical conditions, water resources and problems of the basin and Bang Pakong dialogue project. On the 23 April, the delegation went to Prachin Buri province to visit some telemetering stations, a typical location with water problems on Bang Pakong river and discussed with representatives of Bang Pakong River Basin Committee on how they are dealing with their water-related problems.
The visit was short but very fruitful and helped the delegation to understand water resources in Bang Pakong river basin in particular and in Thailand in general. This is also a good opportunity for the members of the delegation to learn lessons for their own areas.
Below are some pictures of the study visit.
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| Meeting at the Department of Water Resources |
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| Handing souvenirs over by the directors |
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| Dr. Nghia and Mr. Hai (Hanoi) at the DWR Office |
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| At a location with water-related problems in Prachin Buri Province |
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| Discussing with Bang Pakong RBC representatives |
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| Group picture with Bang Pakong RBC representatives |
