Groundwater well probe extended back 10 years: PACC
THE investigation into alleged corruption in a project to seal groundwater wells nationwide will now include activities dating from 2004 to 2014
The move extends from the original probe into alleged irregularities linked to the Groundwater Resource Department’s 2014 project to seal groundwater wells.
The wells were sealed over the 10-year period for Bt859 million.
Prayong Preeyajit, chief of the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), also instructed the GWD chief to check strictly the 6,922 underground wells dug to try to solve the 2015 drought to make sure they are up to standard. So far some 3,000 wells have been dug , he said.
Prayong said the probe was being extended because the investigation into the 2014 projects was complete.
He said a random survey initially found some wells were sealed poorly, so the PACC had requested documents on project details and reimbursements from relevant agencies.
He believes the information obtained will be sufficient for the PACC to set up a sub-panel to probe, according to criminal codes, relevant officials. That will run parallel with the GWD investigation.
He said the GWD had reportedly launched disciplinary investigations into some 100 officials linked to the project.
Prayong said the GWD had to probe the substandard sealing jobs so civil lawsuits could be launched to collect damages and to correct the poor work.
He said no private companies had been linked to the 2014 jobs as those companies that supposedly did the work denied doing it. They may have been linked to the projects fraudulently, he added.
The officials allegedly involved were found to have forged receipts for the reimbursement of the project’s budget, he said.
