CHIANG RAI – The Thai government is moving forward with a major land expropriation plan along the Sai River in Chiang Rai province to prevent severe seasonal flooding. This long-term flood defense project aims to widen the riverbed and build strong permanent embankments to protect local economies. However, the plan has triggered widespread anxiety among residents who fear losing their ancestral homes and their historical livelihoods.
Key Takeaways
- River Widening Project: The Sai River has narrowed significantly from its original width of 150–200 meters due to human encroachment on both sides, creating dangerous bottlenecks that cause severe flooding.
- Resident Demands: Local homeowners and merchants are protesting excessive land reclamation, demanding fair financial compensation, and asking for alternative plots of land if relocation becomes mandatory.
- Government Stance: State authorities pledge to follow a peaceful negotiation framework, but clear relocation guidelines and official compensation rates have not yet been finalized.
The Battle for the Riverbanks
Local communities along the Sai River are voicing strong opposition against the state’s expanding flood wall layout. In vulnerable border areas like the Tham Pha Chom community, families have lived alongside the river for over 60 years. While residents acknowledge the rising danger of seasonal floods, they prefer localized structural reinforcement over total relocation.
Many homeowners have placed large protest signs on their walls reading “Stop Expropriating Land Beyond What is Necessary.” These families want strong, permanent dams built directly within their existing neighborhoods instead of being forced out. They argue that their identity, historical roots, and economic survival are deeply tied to this specific border geography.
Economic Uncertainty Hits Border Trade
The looming land reclamation policy has already cast a long shadow over the local border economy. At the famous Sailomjoy Market, normally a bustling hub for regional tourism, the atmosphere has grown quiet and empty. Shop owners report that tourists are staying away due to uncertainty regarding the future layout of the market.
Merchants emphasize that Sailomjoy Market is an irreplaceable economic symbol of the Mae Sai district. Business owners are urging government officials to hold transparent community meetings before finalizing any demolition plans. They believe a middle ground exists where flood safety can be achieved without destroying local commerce.
Officials Promise a Peaceful Approach
Local administrators confirm that public anxiety is running high because concrete relocation policies are still missing. Chatchai Chaisiri, the Mayor of Wiang Phang Kham Sub-district, stated that residents need clear instructions from the central government. He noted that neighboring Myanmar has already built solid concrete walls, which increases the pressure on the Thai side.
Mae Sai District Chief Warayut Boonkhom explained that a specialized engineering consulting firm recommended the widening project. The river has become a narrow bottleneck over the decades due to unauthorized buildings on both banks. He promised that the state would use a harmony-based approach to resolve conflicts, but emphasized that sustainable flood prevention is a national priority.
According to updates shared on the Spacebar News Website, some river sections cannot be cleared immediately due to unresolved land ownership regulations. Authorities plan to continue door-to-door negotiations to help families understand the structural necessity of the project. Both sides must find a balanced solution before the next major monsoon season arrives.
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