Conflict between Local Community and Public Organizations on Water Management from LamPatao Dam, Kaeng khro District, Chaiyaphum Province

Abstract

The objectives of this article were to study the evolution of conflicts, the causes of conflicts, the resolution process, and optimal ways to resolve the conflicts involved in managing water resources of LamPatao Dam in Chaiyaphum province. Data were collected by in-depth interviews and focus groups. Informants were stakeholders from public organizations and local community in LamPatao Dam. The research revealed that there were three periods of conflict evolution: before the building of the dam, during the building of the dam, and after the building of it. There were five causes of conflicts: structure, relationships, information, water utility, and different values. There were four types of conflicts: resolved conflict, unresolved conflict, concluded conflict, and unconcluded conflict. The procedures used to deal with conflicts consisted of calling meetings for delivering requests to the government offices or independent entities, following the solution of the government sector, and using established social methods.