Office of the National Water Resources was instituted regarding the Order Number 46/2560 issued by the Chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) about the establishment of the office of national water resources management in order to effectively and sustainably integrate the water resources management. The Prime Minister issued the Ministerial Regulation, specifying authorities and duties of the Office of the National Water Resources indicated in subject number 1 as follows:
Subject Number 1
Assign the Office of the National Water Resources to perform the mission in proposing policies and formulating strategic plans, master plans and measures in national water resources management and coordinating for implementation; integrate information, plans, projects and budget framework; monitor and evaluate outcomes of water resources management. The duties and authorities are as follows:
(1) being the main organization in studying and analyzing water situations in order to propose the policies, strategic plans, master plan and measures for national water resources management; as well as coordinating the implementation;
(2) making proposals on water resources management and the country’s integrated budget framework and proposing planning guidelines of water resources management to the National Water Resources Committee;
(3) monitoring and evaluating water resources management in accordance with the policies, strategic plans, master plan, and measures as specified;
(4) integrating water resources information both domestic and international; assessing the needs of water consumption for various purposes, the capability in responding to the needs and the effects occurred in the present and future; as well as performing duty as The National Water Command Center (NWCC);
(5) performing duty as the Secretariat of the National Water Resources Committee;
(6) operating as the single command center for water management at critical times so as to solve the water crisis problems;
(7) carrying out other duties as stipulated by laws or assigned by the Prime Minister or the Cabinet.
As considering roles, authorities and duties mentioned above, it can be summarized into 4 main aspects as follows:
The role as a policy advisor responsible for:
1. suggesting policies and developing strategic plans and master plans
2. proposing policies and the measurements of water management in crisis period
3. proposing the methods of technological development and guidelines on water resources management
4. proposing the directions on international water management
The role as a regulator responsible for:
1. regulating the rules, scrutinizing and prioritizing the determined based area
2. administrating and regulating water management to be in line with the policies and strategies
3. scrutinizing and integrating the projects and budget plans according to the strategies
4. examining and evaluating the implementation of the strategies
5. regulating the information standard, linking to and exchanging with the concerned organizations
The role as a facilitator responsible for:
1. developing professional water management training courses
2. operating as the Secretary of the National Water Resources Committee and related Subcommittees
3. operating as the Secretary of River Basin Committee
The role as an operator responsible for:
1. creating master plans and water management plans in river basin areas
2. operating as the single command center for water management at critical times