Community Leaders Clash With Municipality Over Water Pump Dispute

Community leaders from Wat Pa Rerai in Bangsrimuang District, Nonthaburi, have lodged a formal complaint with the provincial governor following a dispute with the municipal administration over water pump operations. The conflict centers on the community's use of a water pump to manage flooding in their area, which suffers from poor drainage and low elevation. When heavy rains occur, residents collectively fund fuel costs to operate two pumps—one belonging to the community and one borrowed from the municipality—to prevent flooding in local homes.

On September 20, Prinyaa Saknawi, chief administrator of Bangsrimuang Municipality, arrived at the pump station with his staff and reprimanded community leaders and residents, accusing them of bringing outside people to loiter at the site and consuming alcohol, which he said caused noise disturbances and division within the community. He allegedly issued a ban on drinking alcohol at the pump location.

Community leaders have now filed three formal complaints with the provincial governor's office at the Nonthaburi Provincial Hall. First, they claim the municipal administrator's behavior was inappropriate and that he publicly scolded them, mostly in front of women. Second, they dispute his accusation that they engage in misconduct at the pump site, noting that residents regularly purchase beverages to share during pump operations, and that even the community leader from the neighboring area and some municipal staff have participated in this practice. They question why they are being singled out for drinking alcohol when it has been routine during pump operations, and they have requested the governor to reprimand the administrator. Third, they request that the municipality remove its pump from the site so the community can purchase their own equipment and manage fuel costs independently, since the pump is only needed during rainy seasons.

Community leader Bunsomm stated that the entire dispute arose from the administrator's Facebook post warning them not to bring alcohol to the pump location and threatening consequences if they disobeyed. He questioned what wrong they had committed, noting that they purchased the beverages with their own money and that residents voluntarily provided drinks to share. He challenged the administrator's implicit suggestion that residents cannot operate the pump without consuming alcohol.