NACC Rayong Inspects The Marine Department's Multipurpose Port, Allocated Over 84 Million Baht, Yet Remains Unfinished
จากไชต์: Office of The National Anti - Corruption Commission (ONACC)
จำนวนผู้เข้าชม: 214
NACC Rayong Inspects The Marine Department's Multipurpose Port, Allocated Over 84 Million Baht, Yet Remains Unfinished
The Rayong Provincial Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has undertaken an on-site inspection to ascertain the specifics surrounding the renovation project of the multipurpose port at Ao Ma Kham Pom, a venture of the Marine Department. Despite an allocation of more than 84 million baht, the project remains incomplete relative to its contractual obligations.
Chaiwat Phunilamai, Director of the Rayong Provincial NACC Office, accompanied by the Anti-Corruption Task Force, investigated the renovation of the multipurpose port located at Ao Ma Kham Pom in Kram Sub-district, Klaeng District, Rayong Province. This initiative, funded to the tune of around 84 million baht, is overseen by the Marine Department under the Ministry of Transport.
From the on-site investigation at the said port's construction area in Ao Ma Kham Pom, Kram Sub-district, Klaeng District, Rayong Province, insights were gleaned from the project’s supervising engineer, the contract inspection committee, and officials of the Marine Department, the project's primary stakeholder. It was revealed that the contractor failed to fulfill the stipulated requirements of the contract, adversely affecting local communities and tourism in the vicinity. The project, aimed at improving the multipurpose port at Ao Ma Kham Pom, was established to support an additional tourist location. Managed by the Marine Department under the Ministry of Transport, it has an allocated budget of 84.8 million baht. The agreed contract period is from March 17th, 2022 to September 7th, 2023, a total of 540 days, with 21 scheduled payment milestones.
During its progression, the contractor's pace was noted to lag behind the preset plan. Of the 21 planned installments, only two were completed and submitted. Despite 11 notifications from the Marine Department urging acceleration, no positive response was received. Furthermore, by January 2023, the contractor had removed most of the construction materials and related equipment from the site. The Marine Department had formally suggested contract termination on July 6th, 2023. Yet, due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation, the department contemplated a 0% penalty for the contractor. Two notifications in this regard were dispatched to the contractor, but without any ensuing response.
Subsequently, the official overseeing the project from the Marine Department is poised to recommend another contract termination. It's anticipated this process would culminate within October 2023. Thereafter, the search will begin for a fresh contractor in alignment with the government's procurement protocols.
Director Chaiwat revealed that following the mentioned inspection, three recommendations were proffered by the NACC Rayong Provincial Office:
(1) The Marine Department, as project proprietor, must consistently update and publicize project developments at Ao Ma Kham Pom to media outlets and Rayong's residents. This includes the placement of informative signboards detailing project updates at the construction premises.
(2) The Marine Department should synchronize and share progression data with the Sunthorn Phu Sub-district Municipality, the local administrative organization, to propagate associated project details to the community through diverse channels, inclusive of community leaders and council members.
(3) Prompt measures are warranted to cancel the current contract, retrieve the ensuing penalty fees, and hasten the quest for a new contractor to resume the project at the earliest, minimizing setbacks for the local populace and tourists frequenting the Ao Ma Kham Pom dock.
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