Chatt defends dredging contracts

A government project to dredge waterways during the flood-prevention efforts last year was conducted legally through a special bidding process permitted under special circumstances, Deputy Interior Minister Chatt Kuldiloke said during the no-confidence debate.

As transport minister during the 2011 flood crisis, Chatt was responsible for overseeing the dredging work. Respon-ding to a grilling by Democrat Party MP Thavorn Senniam, Chatt denied that the total project cost of Bt1.215 billion was inflated, saying it was based on a rate of Bt34.50 per cubic metre of debris collected through dredging. This standard was laid out by the Marine Department, which hired the contractors, he said.

Chatt said the standard electronic-auction process would have taken too long to allow the department to complete the dredging work in time, as floodwater threatened to submerge areas in need of protection. The special process did not violate the law, and led to the selection of 16 contractors, who were awarded 26 deals at the above rate, with some variations depending on the specific area and difficulty of access to the rivers and canals involved.

Thavorn alleged that the 16 contractors were close to or had connections with Chatt and his fellow politicians. Chatt did not respond to this.

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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2012/11/26/chatt-defends-dredging-contracts/