Bangkok Post
February 5, 2005

The consultant firms hired to assess the controversial Klong Dan wastewater treatment facility have found serious structural damage that could lead to a compensation claim by the state against the contractor of some 4,000 million baht.

Responding to the report presented by the two consultant firms, the American Black and Weath and Progress International of Thailand, Pollution Control Department chief Apichai Chvajarernpun said there was no plan yet on any further action against the contractor because the report had still not been wrapped up.

“We have not talked about whether we would file a new charge against the construction consortium. Figures in the report still need to be improved,” Mr Apichai said yesterday.

The NVPSKG consortium, consisting of five construction companies, was contracted by the Pollution Control Department to build the 23-billion-baht facility in tambon Klong Dan in Samut Prakan province.

The project was 90% complete when the department launched an investigation two years ago and found that NVPSKG had violated the contract by failing to inform officials about the pullout of a Britain-based wastewater consultant firm, North West Water International, from the consortium.

The department subsequently laid a fraud charge against the consortium. Other charges were also filed afterwards as the investigation revealed illegal land acquisition for the project, which allegedly involved some politicians.

Nakrit Hawettanan, a department legal expert, said the recent finding on structural damage could lead to a new compensation claim of 4,000 million baht.

“Some ‘heavy’ parts of the plants need to be replaced while some cracks need to be repaired,” Mr Nakrit said.