Three Mae Sai communities face relocation for flood prevention plan

Three riverside communities in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province are targeted for relocation, to facilitate the construction of a permanent flood wall to protect the district, which is a major border trading post with Myanmar, from future flooding and mudslides.

The district suffered devastating flooding and mudslides in 2022. It took several months to remove the thick layers of mud covering most roads and houses before the situation was returned to normal. Unfortunately, it was struck again in 2024.

To resolve this recurrent problem, the Department of Civil Works, Town and Country Planning was designated, by the previous Pheu Thai-led government, to develop a master plan to resolve the flooding issue on sustainable basis. The department was allocated 24 million baht by the government to hire consultants to conduct a comprehensive study of the problem and to develop solutions.

Under the plan, as proposed by the consultants, a floodwall will be built along the Sai River, on the Thai side of the border opposite the Tachileik township of Myanmar, while the river itself needs to be dredged to increase water flow.

For the plan to be implemented, the Hau Fai, Koh Sai and Sai Lom Joy communities will be need to be relocated. First, however, feedback from the residents is required, especially from those who will be affected, as they need to be informed about how much compensation they will receive if they are to be moved further away from the town.

Last Wednesday, a member of the National Human Rights Commission, Sayamon Kaiyurawong, led a delegation on a visit to Mae Sai to hear opinions about the relocation plan. The delegation also held discussions with Chiang Rai deputy governor and Mae Sai municipal officials.

The meeting was briefed on the consultants’ plan by a specialist from the Chiang Rai office of the Department of Public Works, Town and Country Planning.

Prasong La-on, Deputy Governor of Chiang Rai Province

Prasong La-on, the deputy governor, told the meeting that there are 843 houses which encroach on the river and need to be relocated adding, however, that they are entitled to compensation as well.

Public hearing forum organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with local residents and relevant agencies in Mae Sai Subdistrict, Chiang Rai Province.

Those at the meeting were also told, by a representative of Thailand Tobacco Monopoly, that there is a 12 hectare plot of land, which is the close to the town and can be used a new site to house the relocated residents, but approval is needed from the Ministry of Finance for the use of the land.

District chief officer Warayut Khomboon said that a temporary floodwall, made of sandbags, has been built, extending about 3.6km along the Sai River’s banks, and that 42km of the Ruak tributary has been dredged.

He complained, however, that Myanmar, which is also supposed to conduct river dredging, has stopped work.

The price tag for the relocation of three communities is estimated at about 3.4 billion baht, including 1.6 billion baht for construction of the floodwall and about 1.8 billion baht as compensation for those affected. The project is expected to be completed in the next five years.