Pottharam Residents Demand Help After 30 Years of Recurring Floods

Residents of Nong Sala village in Muban Sing subdistrict and Don Trai subdistrict in Pottharam, Ratchaburi, have endured recurring flooding and water stagnation for over 30 years. Heavy rainfall causes widespread flooding of homes and agricultural land, destroying crops and livelihoods. Although residents submitted complaints during the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration, the problem remains unresolved and no government agency has implemented a lasting fix.

Residents say the crisis began approximately 30 years ago when an industrial estate purchased land and filled in a public drainage canal to construct facilities, blocking water flow that previously drained into an irrigation canal. The original landowner had not reserved the canal as public easement in the title deed, allowing the new owner to obstruct it. Water now has no outlet, causing flooding and stagnation. A second drainage route exists but passes through private land whose owner refuses to allow water through, further worsening the problem.

Currently, residents hire excavators to dig deeper retention areas, but heavy rain still causes flooding because water cannot escape. Local officials from Ban Sing and Don Trai subdistricts said they plan to install pumps to push water out toward Phetchkasem Road and have coordinated with Ratchaburi Provincial Administration to clear weeds from the drainage canal to improve water flow. They will convene all relevant agencies to find a permanent solution, including negotiating with the industrial estate to allow water passage during the rainy season. Officials have appealed to the Prime Minister to personally intervene, as previous temporary measures have provided only limited relief. Vegetable farmer Penchprapa Tonkinree, 54, who loses crops including morning glory during floods, said the inundation has devastated her livelihood and daily income from selling produce at Pottharam market.