Big Tao collaborated with the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission to inspect the water storage and distribution development project in Thung Kula Rong Hai, Suwannaphum District, Roi Et Province, with a total budget exceeding 94 million baht. This followed complaints about concentrated budgeting and the project's limited operational efficiency. The subdistrict headman insisted the project followed proper steps to assist local farmers.
On 8 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Police Major General Jaroonkiat Pankaew, Deputy Commander of the Crime Suppression Division, along with Ms. Sumitra Wattana, Director-General of the Department of Land Development, Mr. Adul Wandi, Acting Director of the National Anti-Corruption Commission in Roi Et, and officials from the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, visited Thung Kula Rong Hai in Roi Et to inspect the water storage and distribution system projects. These projects, with a combined budget exceeding 94 million baht, were implemented in multiple phases from 2023 to 2025.
The inspection team visited the water pumping station of the project to enhance jasmine rice production capacity in Thung Kula Rong Hai at Ban Khwao, Village No. 9, Thung Kula Subdistrict, Suwannaphum District. They examined the water storage system, pumping equipment, installation points, and agricultural areas benefiting from the plan to compare them with documents, blueprints, and project details approved centrally.
The focal points under scrutiny included budget concentration in a single area, the feasibility of nearby or potentially overlapping projects, and the operational efficiency of the water system after construction.
Mr. Phun Buali, headman of Thung Kula Subdistrict, explained that he personally proposed the budget request to central authorities to address water issues and assist local farmers. He affirmed that the project was implemented according to approved blueprints and established procedures.
Ms. Sumitra said complaints came both internally and externally, especially regarding project overlaps and projects that were constructed but not yet fully functional. Therefore, it was necessary to verify the facts on-site before proceeding with a detailed investigation.
Meanwhile, Police Major General Jaroonkiat Pankaew, Deputy Commander of the Crime Suppression Division, emphasized that water-related budgets must be carefully managed from the start — including problem surveys, source water assessment, site suitability, and construction — because if the system does not operate fully, government funds may not provide maximum benefits to the public.
Mr. Adul Wandi stated that large projects require oversight from the initial stages, covering issues, necessity, coordination among agencies, and land use permits to prevent problems that might impede the project's intended use.
Initially, the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, and related agencies will use data from the site inspection, including project documents, blueprints, coordinates, procurement, acceptance reports, and actual usage, for further examination.
This field visit remains a preliminary fact-finding mission without conclusions about corruption. All involved parties have been able to fully explain the matters. Key issues to monitor include whether the 94 million baht budget was used as intended, whether project overlaps exist, and how effectively the constructed water system benefits farmers.