PHICHIT, Thailand – In a shocking discovery, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) in Phichit province has uncovered severe flaws in five local water weir projects. These vital structures began falling apart just two months after completion, sparking outrage among local villagers. Farmers in Thailand rely heavily on these small dams to save water for their crops, making this failure a massive blow to the community.
Key Takeaways:
- The NACC inspected five weir projects in Phichit after locals reported rapid structural failures.
- A single blacklisted contractor, Dalin Construction, handled all five troubled projects.
- Engineering tests revealed missing steel beams and severely thin concrete across the sites.
- Officials face strict legal action if investigators prove they ignored clear safety violations.
Mr. Warapong Intamong, the NACC Director for Phichit, recently led a special engineering team to investigate the broken weirs. They focused heavily on specific sites located in the Sam Ngam and Wachirabarami districts. Angry villagers had tipped off the agency about the poor quality of these newly built government structures.
Investigators quickly found that a single company, Dalin Construction Limited Partnership, built all five projects. The Comptroller General’s Department has already removed this corrupt contractor from the national public procurement system. The NACC team used standard core boring tools to drill into the structures and check the concrete strength.
Shocking Flaws Revealed in Five Projects
The field test results completely shocked the investigators. They found incredibly thin concrete floors, missing steel structures, and severely downgraded building materials. Here are the specific details of the five failed local projects:
- Ban Pak Khlong Weir: Located in Sam Ngam, this 2.5 million baht project was fully paid despite a 273-day construction delay. Light rain on May 9 and 10, 2026, easily washed away the weak structure. Concrete thickness was only 12 to 15 centimeters instead of the required 25 centimeters, and support beams were missing.
- Ban Yang Ha Lum Weir: This Sam Ngam project cost taxpayers 2.1 million baht and was paid in full. Inspectors found thin concrete and a massive four-meter gap in the middle, making it useless for storing water. Local officials claim the contractor requested a design change, which investigators are currently reviewing.
- Mae Prue Canal Weir: Costing 610,000 baht, this fully paid project also failed basic quality checks. While the top met the 25-centimeter standard, the side concrete was only 19 to 23 centimeters thick. The engineering team also noted missing concrete support beams along the riverbanks.
- Ban Nong Sadao Weir: Located in Wachirabarami, this 1.2 million baht project was handed over 275 days late. The government paid the contractor in full despite the delays. Testing showed the concrete was just 18 to 20 centimeters thick, and edge beams were completely missing from both sides.
- Huai Noi Canal Weir: This 1.4 million baht project in Wachirabarami broke apart before the official handover could even happen. Heavy water flow destroyed the weak concrete base. Incredibly, investigators found zero steel bars or concrete beams, showing a dangerous disregard for standard building rules.
Local Officials Promise Quick Action
Mr. Anuwat Srimueang serves as the Director of Engineering for the Phichit Provincial Administrative Organization. He also acted as the main chairman of the local project inspection committee. He recently admitted to the press that the actual construction did not match the agreed contract designs.
Mr. Anuwat stated that his office will immediately order the contractor to fix and rebuild all the broken structures. This quick action aims to help local farmers who urgently need safe water storage. Furthermore, he promised a full internal review of the project control and inspection procedures.
The NACC refuses to let this serious issue fade away. Director Warapong confirmed that his team sent the drilled concrete samples to a high-level engineering laboratory. These scientific tests will officially measure the true strength and safety of the materials used.
The lab results will serve as hard forensic evidence against those responsible for the failing structures. If the data proves that officials helped the contractor cheat, the NACC will act quickly and aggressively. They will file strict criminal and disciplinary charges against the inspection committee and the supervisors.
The government plans to use the full force of the law to punish this corrupt network. Their ultimate goal is to recover the stolen public funds and restore trust in local infrastructure development. By bringing these crimes to light, officials hope to prevent future construction disasters in the province.
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