Abstract

This study examines water governance and environmental justice in the Bang Ban floodplain area of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Thailand. The Bang Ban floodplain, a critical natural flood retention area, plays a significant role in mitigating flood risks and supporting local agriculture, particularly rice cultivation. However, state-managed water policies have led to continuous flooding, environmental degradation, and economic challenges for local residents and farmers. The research focuses on the distributive and procedural justice aspects of water governance, highlighting the inequitable distribution of environmental impacts and the lack of genuine local participation in decision-making processes. The findings reveal that centralized water governance policies have resulted in significant environmental injustice. Residents and farmers in Bang Ban face recurrent floods and water shortages, disrupting their agricultural cycles and livelihoods. The study also pinpoints a deficiency in procedural justice, given the exclusion of local communities from significant involvement in water management decisions. The adverse effects include economic losses, reduced biodiversity, and increased vulnerability to environmental hazards. The research underscores the need for more inclusive and equitable water governance strategies that address both environmental justice and sustainable development.