The Participatory Communication Process of Stakeholders in the Environmental Impact Assessment of a Mega Project in Bangkok Metropolitan

Abstract

The study was conducted by qualitative research through documentary analysis and in-depth interviews with stakeholders, supplemented by quantitative research through survey questionnaires. The research is aimed to 1) analyze and recommend an effective communication process in the EIA for a mega project in Bangkok, 2) analyze a communication process of the owner of the mega river project for establishing the stakeholders’ participation in playing their roles in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process, and 3) analyze the use of new media in the EIA process. From the quantitative research, it was found that factors found to affect the effectiveness of participatory communication in the EIA were: 1) a two-way communication, 2) early starting with sufficient time of operations, 3) operations by experts, 4) the coverage of target groups, 5) proper patterns and methods of participation, 6) the use of proper communication media and channels, and 7) operations with sincerity. For the qualitative research, it was found that the owner of the mega river project operated by only two factors: two-way communication and the use of proper patterns and methods for creating a participatory process. Accordingly, the outcome of a participatory process was perceived at a low level. Namely, the stakeholders participated in the project in the stage of receiving information only without an opinion exchange process nor a collaborative determination of related measures. Besides, the project owner did not use new media, as widely used by general people, to create understanding; thus, the stakeholders could not receive information sufficiently.