BMA probed over misuse of public funds
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) spending on drainage operations has come under scrutiny after the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) found the budget was used to finance the renovation of the governor office’s at a cost of 16.5 million baht.
The renovation project drew public attention last month after it was allegedly completed before the terms were set. The website of the BMA’s Department of Public Works showed a document listing pricey items as part of the project, including a 75-inch TV for 329,900 baht and dining chairs priced 54,500 baht each.
Renovations were said to have started in April, 2014, after Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra was suspended from duty when the Appeal Court accepted a case filed by the Election Commission (EC) requesting his March 2013 election win be annulled.
The suspicions prompted the OAG to step in and determine whether the project complied with state regulations. The BMA was found to have used the Department of Drainage and Sewerage’s (DDS) coffers to fund the renovation project.
“I doubt whether the renovation of the governor’s office should be part o the DDS’s budget,” said Auditor-General Pisit Leelavachiropas. “The DDS deals with drainage so why is its budget being used for this project?”
He is looking into how the DDS’s budgets from 2012 to now have been used.
“An examination is needed because there are several areas that are prone to heavy flooding when there is heavy rain like there has been,” said Mr Pisit.
According to Mr Pisit, 27.33 billion baht was allocated to the DDS from 2012 to this year.
Of this amount, 15.31 billion baht was set aside for drainage management and antiflood solutions, which include upgrading canal conditions, acquiring electric water pumps, maintaining and handling giant drainage tunnels and enhancing the capacity of water pump stations.
Another 6.26 billion baht was earmarked for drainage system improvement, which involves the construction of drainage tunnels, concrete embankments, flood defence structures, sluice gates and water pump stations.
He said 5.42 billion baht was used to improve water quality, which covered the launching of conservation centres, wastewater treatment schemes and the examination of canal water quality.
Mr Pisit said the OAG had obtained the five-year records of the drainage budgets allocated to Bangkok’s 50 district offices, totalling 4.17 million baht.
According to Mr Pisit, MR Sukhumbhand also announced he would press ahead with 21 anti-flood projects at a cost of four billion baht.
“City Hall has used a huge amount of money in dealing with drainage but the results do not reach a suitable level in comparison with spending, said Mr Pisit.
“With a huge spending on drainage work, why does the flood problem still exist when there is a rain?” Doesn’t this substantial spending help tackle flooding?”
The OAG therefore has to examine this issue and tell the truth to taxpayers, he said, adding his organisation does not only scrutinise whether the budget had been spent in line with regulations, but also check whether the spending was viable.
“If the BMA is found to have spent its budget legitimately, but not effectively, then this can be seen as its having administrative flaws too,” said Mr Pisit.
He added that any officials found to have been linked with irregularities will be called to testify.
The BMA is the largest local administrative body with a huge budget, he said. City Hall rolls out scores of projects every year with many alleged to have irregularities, including the New Year light show at Lan Khon Muang; the procurement of musical instruments for schools; the purchase of CCTV cameras; and the renovation of the governor’s room.
“I have no problems with any BMA organisations, the governor or executives.
“The investigation into the BMA work follows the i nformation or evidence obtained,” said the auditor-general, adding: “If the BMA proceeds with its work correctly, it has to stand ready for scrutiny in every aspect also.”
He denied allegations that the OAG is trying to discredit the BMA.
Meanwhile, Bangkok deputy governor Amorn Kitchawengkul, who supervised the DDS, hit back at criticism, saying the DDS was not only asked to deal with floodwater, but also to cope with wastewater treatment, maintain involved equipment and handle the anti-flood prevention in a long run, which were all subject to 27 billion baht of its allocated budget from 2012 to this year.
The DDS receives only 25 million baht to deal with the dredging of canals and sewerage systems every year and only 16 million baht is given to the 50 district offices to handle the issue, he said.
According to the Embassy of the Netherlands, the country needed more than 100 billion baht to deal with its poor drainage system and prevent wastewater flowing into canals.