NACC Khon Kaen Monitors Corruption Risks in Public Water Dredging Projects

NACC Khon Kaen Monitors Corruption Risks in Public Water Dredging Projects

The Khon Kaen Provincial Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has implemented anti-corruption monitoring measures, focusing on overseeing water dredging projects. The goal is to prevent encroachment on public and private lands, while ensuring government officials allocate budgets in compliance with regulations. The NACC emphasized the importance of adhering to good governance principles and ensuring no undue benefits are given to the private sector.

Teerath Bangpetch, Acting Director of the Khon Kaen NACC office, stated that the office is actively monitoring the implementation of local water dredging projects. This effort aims to prevent corruption, misconduct, and ensure that government operations and budgets are used according to legal regulations.

The NACC team inspected three projects under the Khon Kaen Irrigation Project:

1. Nong Pan Monkey Cheek Project in Nong Pan Subdistrict, Manjakhiri District, Khon Kaen Province. This project involves the excavation of 252,000 cubic meters of soil, with a budget of 14,100,000 baht and a contract value of 9,118,448 baht.
2. Kut Lop Monkey Cheek Project in Pho Chai Subdistrict, Pho Chai District, Khon Kaen Province. The project entails the excavation of 322,000 cubic meters of soil, with a budget of 23,590,000 baht and a contract value of 10,145,940 baht.
3. Kut Chup-Kut Mak Kep Reservoir Dredging Project, self-managed by the Khon Kaen Irrigation Project, involves the excavation of 200,000 cubic meters of soil in Non Sa-at Subdistrict, Waeng Yai District, Khon Kaen Province, with a budget of 6,490,000 baht.

The NACC’s monitoring aligns with directives from the NACC Board, which were prompted by past reports of corruption and non-compliance in water dredging projects. In previous cases, contractors misused dredged soil for unauthorized purposes, and some government agencies favored private landowners by illegally extending their land boundaries. This inspection represents a collaborative effort between the public, private, and governmental sectors to prevent corruption. The initiative promotes proactive citizen involvement in monitoring public spending and ensures transparency in government projects, making them fully auditable. Additionally, the NACC aims to close loopholes that could allow undue benefits to private capitalists, potentially leading to legal consequences.