Villagers complain of malfunctioning of many solar cell power poles in Deep South

[webfact]

Villagers complain of malfunctioning of many solar cell power poles in Deep South

 

 

YALA: -- Many complaints have been lodged with the Yala provincial office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission by local residents in three southern border provinces over suspected corruption in the installation of over 14,000 solar cell power poles in the region.

 

The complainants said many of the solar cell power poles installed by the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre were found to be not working after only three days of their installation, causing hardship to them who have to rely on the lighting from the power poles for travelling at night.

 

It was reported that the project to install about 14,000 solar cell power poles in the provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat where electricity is not accessible was estimated at about one billion baht.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/villagers-complain-malfunctioning-many-solar-cell-power-poles-deep-south/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-06-06

[yellowboat]

According to the article, they started failing three days after installation.  Either the product or the installation is flawed.  Sounds like testing needed to be done prior to mass install 

[CelticBhoy]

At that price for the said number of lamp posts then it is working out at over 70K per pole.

Someone did very well out of this contract, methinks  . . .  

[pizzachang]

Yep, they must be maintained and replaced regularly. Nothing is really free.

[Emster23]

In related subject, the solar powered (seemingly)  light poles added during Jomtien Beach "improvement" have never functioned. It's been what, a year? Perhaps Yala folks should be happy got 3 days (probably charge already in batteries and no charge came from cells)

[ksamuiguy]

This area is where they need them the most.