Challenges and opportunities for water resources management in southeast Asia

The issues of water resources management are addressed with specific reference to the available water resources and water demand for the Chao Phraya River basin in Thailand. The water resources management practices in most of the countries in southeast Asia have been generally on a sectoral level without consideration of any intersectoral interference and trade-off. A change of paradigm is needed with a holistic approach giving due regard to the requirement of equitable distribution of water, adequate governance, efficient economic performance and maintenance of environmental quality. Technological intervention, probable institutional reforms, community participation, water conservation and re-use, water policy and legal frameworks are some of the feasible measures that provide opportunities to evolve a systematic approach to water resources management.