Investigation shows irregularities in well filling-in project

IRREGULARITIES HAVE been detected in the groundwater-well closing project run by the Groundwater Resources Department (GWD), with damages estimated at nearly Bt100 million. 

The Centre for National Anti-Corruption (CNAC) began investigating the project after receiving a tip-off from GWD officials. 

The project involves closing up wells that have either become ineffective or have too little water for use. 

“The investigation found irregularities and there is reason to suspect that some government officials may have been involved in corruption during the implementation of the project in 2014 fiscal year,” CNAC secretary Prayong Preeyachitt told the press yesterday.

The cost of filling in each well is between Bt16,000 and Bt18,000, and every year, it seems thousands of them need to be filled in.

Prayong, who is also the secretary-general of the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), said the investigation included random checks on wells that, according to GWD reports, had already been filled. 

PACC board member Pol General Jarumporn Suramanee explained that the damage might be at around 90 per cent of the project’s total budget of Bt103 million. 

“According to standard procedure, it takes about two days to fill a well. However, our investigation shows that contractors spent an average of just half a day at each well,” he said. 

He added that detailed examinations at the wells in several provinces revealed that contractors had filled the wells up very loosely. 

According to him, seismic tests have been conducted to check the cement used in the filling.

“At first glance, it seems as if these wells have already been filled. Yet some of these wells are 70 metres deep, but the cement filling is only at the mouth of the wells at just 50-centimetres deep,” Jarumporn said. 

He added that according to the terms of reference, cement must be mixed with water only, but it is very likely that the cement has been mixed with other material too. He said the contractors were also found to have failed to clean the wells before filling them in, despite requirements mentioned in the contract. 

Moreover, he said, investigators found that several receipts used for reimbursement were fake. 

“Many firms whose name appears on the receipts insist that they have never issued such documents. Some firms said they were contacted by printing shops to get the receipt forms even though they had never placed the printing orders,” Jarumporn said. 

He added that officials assigned to check the quality of the filling also sought an unusually high amount for their daily allowance. 

“Normally, they get a daily allowance of Bt240 when working outside. They claim they have worked outside for as many as 70 or 80 days and even used fake petrol receipts to back the claim,” Jarumporn said, adding that 97 officials have already been found involved in the alleged irregularities. “We will investigate further,” Jarumporn promised. 

Auditor-General Pisit Leelavachiropas said the CNAC had already demanded that the GWD director-general submit documents related to the project for further examination. 

“If the corruption is confirmed, those involved must return the money,” he said. 

Pisit disclosed that the CNAC planned to look into the implementation of Water Resources Department’s groundwater-well filling project too. 

Justice Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya, speaking in his capacity as the chair of the CNAC, said the GWD director-general had already been summoned and told to ensure such irregularities did not happen again.