Officials face Klong Dan rap !!!

 

A bird's-eye view of the Klong Dan wastewater project, considered
 to be the biggest, most corrupt boondoggle in the country's
 history. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill).

Officials found to be involved with the scandal-hit Klong Dan

 waste water treatment plant in Samut Prakan will be held

responsible for huge fees incurred by the government for breach

 of contract.

They will have to cover the nine-billion-baht penalty which

the government has been ordered to pay to the contractor,

 said Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment permanent

 secretary Kasemsun Chinnavaso.

Mr Kasemsun said Wednesday that a committee has been

 set up to investigate officials who were involved in the

 corruption saga.

 The team will use the Supreme Administrative Court's verdict

as a guideline to find people to take responsibility for damages

 to the state.

 Officials who are found guilty will be forced to pay

compensation to the government, he said, explaining the amount

of money will be associated with their position in the state

service hierarchy.

EDITORIAL: Make cheaters pay

The higher-ranking officials will be responsible for higher

 amounts of compensation.

"If they are found guilty, they must return money to the

 government. If they have died, their children must take

 responsibility," he said.

Many committees have dealt with the long-running legal

saga over the years. Little progress has been made in holding

 the guilty to account, even though the names of the wrongdoers

have been revealed.

 A source at the Department of Pollution Control said the new

 committee, chaired by the ministry's inspector Worasat

Apaipong, will focus on officials who were involved with an

order to cancel the contract with the NVPSKG consortium.

 The Supreme Administrative Court cited the ministry's

 cancellation of that contract when it found in favour of the

consortium last year.

The court agreed with the arbitrator's conclusion that the

department needed to pay the construction costs as the

project was nearly completed.

 The ministry's move is in line with the cabinet's resolution on

 Tuesday that approved a sum of 9.8 billion baht to be paid to

 the consortium.

The first lot of 3.2 billion baht and US$21.7 million will be paid

 by Saturday and the remainder next year.

Meanwhile, the Wastewater Management Authority and the

department will look into whether the plant, which was never

opened, can still be used.

 Mr Kasemsun said the agencies would also invite the public to

 have a say on the matter.

Many locals opposed the plant on environmental grounds.

The Wastewater Management Authority will submit a request

for 285 million baht for the study.

Academics from Kasetsart University will help with that study

by reviewing the plant's condition.

Meanwhile, local activist Dawan Chantarahassadi said she was

 opposed to the government compensating the consortium,

saying the ministry should investigate ways to reduce further

damages to the state before making any payments.

She claimed the NVPSKG concealed certain information from

 the department before it signed the contract.


News,General,Bangkok Post, 19 November 2015.

 

In my viewpoint,the government make the right decision

to pay to the consortium ,it is to remain the credit of the

the government and the country.

 

The loss from this corruption case should get the responsibility

from the authorities and the politicians involve and they must

pay back to the country.

 

Sincerely Yours.