A 9.9-million-baht solar streetlight project in Mukdahan province has come under scrutiny on social media over concerns that the lights may have been installed too close together. The local mayor defended the project as necessary and beneficial to the community.
The issue was raised on Thursday by the Facebook page ‘Strong Anti-Corruption Thailand”, which questioned a project by Nikhom Kham Soi Municipality in Mukdahan to install 148 sets of 50-watt solar-powered LED streetlights.
The project, listed under procurement number 68129033747, had a budget of 9.916 million baht, with the winning bid coming in at 9.906 million baht, or about 66,932 baht per streetlight.
Each unit is over double the number of streetlights in similar projects (about 33,000 baht) and almost triple the amount of the market value (about 25,000 baht), according to Strong.
Strong questioned whether the number and spacing of the lights were necessary and called for greater transparency over the project’s specifications and costs. It asked the municipality to disclose the bill of quantities, installation plans, distance between poles and engineering calculations supporting the lighting design.
The group stressed that it was not accusing the municipality of wrongdoing but said public spending should be open to scrutiny, particularly when the project involves nearly 10 million baht of governmental money that is gained from people’s tax. Nikhom Kham Soi Mayor Chalong Butkarn said the project had been initiated before he took office, but maintained that the installation was appropriate and had brought tangible benefits to residents.
He said the road was previously poorly lit and deserted, making it difficult to use after dark. The area is also home to a municipal sports stadium as well as Wat Supakorn Nikhom Thammarama. Improved lighting was also stated to benefit residents, including groups of elderly people who walk there before dawn.
Mr Chalong said the streetlights should be viewed in the context of the area’s regular use, rather than solely by the number of poles installed.
As the streetlights have now been installed, residents and Strong will be watching whether the project delivers the promised benefits and whether the nearly 10 million baht spent can be justified. Attention will also turn to whether the relevant authorities will release the project specifications and installation plans for public scrutiny, as requested by Strong.