Irregularities Found In Planting Scheme: Thailand Flood Recovery Project

[webfact]

FLOOD RECOVERY PROJECT

Irregularities found in planting scheme

Janjira Pongrai

The Nation

Inspectors find trees, vetiver grass overpriced; planted in wrong areas

BANGKOK: -- Environmentalists and natural resource inspectors are scheduled to look into irregularities at a young tree and vetiver grass plantation later this week.

A few months ago, a team of inspectors from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, led by Kasemsan Jinnawaso, found that vetiver grass worth hundreds of thousands of baht had died a few months after planting and a large amount of money earmarked for the project had gone missing.

The project, based in forested areas in the North and overseen by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) and the Royal Forest Department (RFD), was part of the Bt120-billion flood recovery project.

The government had allocated about Bt463 million for the project, of which about Bt223 million was spent on planting young trees and some Bt198 million used for planting vetiver grass in head watershed areas. The remaining Bt42 million was allocated for farmers to plant trees in their paddy fields.

Last week, the ministry's inspectors visited a plantation in Suphan Buri province and will be reporting to the minister soon.

Kasemsan had initially reported about irregularities at a meeting chaired by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Preecha Rengsomboonsuk on October 17. According to Kasemsan, vetiver grass in these plantations died three months after planting, and the job had not been done as per instructions. Moreover, instead of planting the grass in areas prone to landslides, most of the vetiver was planted along riverbanks and flooded areas.

They also discovered that the government was charged Bt2.79 for each young tree planted, when in reality these plants cost only Bt1.14 each.

Similarly, some unidentified individual appears to have made Bt0.45 for each vetiver grass planted, which cost about Bt1.65.

Preecha said people found to be involved in these irregularities would face strict disciplinary action.

Separately, the DNP has asked the government to allocate Bt2 billion for reforestation and planting young trees for the 2013 fiscal year. It plans to spend Bt700 million on planting 120 billion plants in the next two years.

-- The Nation 2012-10-24

[Buchholz]

More laundered money to transfer to Hong Kong.

[chiang mai]

This stuff never ends does it, everytime the government goes to spend money on something for the public good, it dissappears.

[jerrysteve]

Nothing New about Irregularities being found..or Money gone Missing...next topic please!

[Thai at Heart]

Some unidentified individual.

Love the euphemism

[chiang mai]

No there's nothing new about it, the problem gets much bigger however when people become complacent about it and accept it as the norm!

[asiawatcher]

Bt463 million for replanting? Bullsh*t. You could replant the entire country with change for that figure so it is fairly obvious why it was so high - I could be nice and use words such as misappropriation but skimmed seems more fitting. Is there no accountability check across the finance ministry for their complete unabated out of control incompetence? Allocation of funds based on a budget? What a scam this Govt is.

[fareastguy]

Yeah.. I'm getting bored with this too !

Corruption at all levels, in the "land of Red" it's all up for grabs, a get rich quick scheme then get out.

[lizardtongue]

A few months ago, a team of inspectors from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, led by Kasemsan Jinnawaso, found that vetiver grass worth hundreds of thousands of baht had died a few months after planting and a large amount of money earmarked for the project had gone missing.

Wow that is unusual money going missing never would have believed that, not in Thailand...........

What amazes me is the fact that almost every day there is news of 'money going missing' 'money misappropriated' 'money lost by corruption' then once a week the lady at the top puts out a statement with words to the effect that 'corruption will not be tolerated, and is being eradicated'

A classic case of left hand not knowing what right hand is taking doing!

[Ricardo]

Send for DPM-SuperChalerm to investigate, now that he's eliminated all the mafia-scams, in tourist-areas !

[Thaddeus]

Irregularities?

If a project was within budget, on schedule AND every single Baht accounted for, that would be irregular.

[rubl]

Separately, the DNP has asked the government to allocate Bt2 billion for reforestation and planting young trees for the 2013 fiscal year. It plans to spend Bt700 million on planting 120 billion plants in the next two years.

THB 2 billion needed in fiscal 2013 to spent THB 700 million in two years ?

Something must be lost in translation, I hope?

[AleG]

Irregularities?

If a project was within budget, on schedule AND every single Baht accounted for, that would be irregular.

That someone is spilling the beans?

[Cloggie]

Money that disappears in Thailand, that is the last place on earth I expected money to disappear

[billd766]

In regard of 463 million if you paid only one man 300 baht per day he would have to work 365 days a year for 4,228 years to earn that.

[Artisi]

Well, I am shocked to the core. I find it very hard to believe that money has gone missing and cannot accounted for. Is Thailand becoming a country of dishonest and corrupt officials - no never - couldn't happen as LOS is run by upstanding and honest politicians and officials.

[hellodolly]

In regard of 463 million if you paid only one man 300 baht per day he would have to work 365 days a year for 4,228 years to earn that.

463 million is not going to go far towards restoring the deforested land. It has been raped for years and handful of Baht wil not even start to restore it. Some people carry on like it has only happened in one year.

Not only do they need to reforest the land but they have to stop the illegal deforestation. Sadly both are wishful thinking.

[dcutman]

Separately, the DNP has asked the government to allocate Bt2 billion for reforestation and planting young trees for the 2013 fiscal year. It plans to spend Bt700 million on planting 120 billion plants in the next two years.

THB 2 billion needed in fiscal 2013 to spent THB 700 million in two years ?

Something must be lost in translation, I hope?

PT Govt accounting. Perfectly normal.

[cooked]

Well, the activities of the DNP and Royal Forestry Dept. are murky, strange activities indeed. They are involved in elephant poaching, raiding an animal rescue centre to 'rescue' the animals there, many of which then disappeared, torching huts of ethnic minorities in the forests....

[waza]

Preecha said people found to be involved in these irregularities would face strict disciplinary action.= moved to an in-active post?

That the main problem with this country, the apathy shown towards corruption and crimes against society. If punishment outweighed the benifits of the crime then maybe others will be detered from crime.

[thaicbr]

WELL. With it being in Suphanburi. The money will have gone to the old fella with the Chinese hair cut.. he owns Suphanburi after all. -_-

sent from my ..................#

[Artisi]

WELL. With it being in Suphanburi. The money will have gone to the old fella with the Chinese hair cut.. he owns Suphanburi after all.

sent from my ..................#

Owns, runs and controls every aspect of Suphanburi and oversees every Baht that comes in his direction with not too many slipping passed his grasp.

[hellodolly]

Separately, the DNP has asked the government to allocate Bt2 billion for reforestation and planting young trees for the 2013 fiscal year. It plans to spend Bt700 million on planting 120 billion plants in the next two years.

THB 2 billion needed in fiscal 2013 to spent THB 700 million in two years ?

Something must be lost in translation, I hope?

PT Govt accounting. Perfectly normal.

Lest we forget this is a government with a Finance Minister who says a lying is OK.