Cabinet approves panel for oversight of megaprojects

Cabinet approves panel for oversight of megaprojects

The cabinet yesterday gave the nod to setting up a committee to supervise the government's infrastructure megaprojects and requiring all projects worth more than 1 billion baht to disclose certain information to the public.

The move is aimed at promoting transparency in construction projects undertaken by the government, state-owned enterprises and local organisations.

Kobsak Phutrakul, assistant minister to the Prime Minister's Office, said the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (CoST) Committee will be chaired by the finance permanent secretary, with the Comptroller-General's Department functioning as the secretariat office.

The director-general of the Comptroller-General's Department will act as the committee's first vice-chairman, and the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand will serve as second vice-chairman.

Other members will include representatives from the National Economic and Social Development Board, the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand, the Transparency Thailand Organisation, the Good Governance for Social Development and the Environment Institute, the Engineering Institute of Thailand, the Association of Siamese Architects, the Association of Thai ICT Industry and the State Enterprise Policy Office.

According to Mr Kobsak, the cabinet yesterday also approved the operating framework of the CoST panel.

Projects that need to pass through CoST will include infrastructure projects, projects worth more than 1 billion baht and projects that have a significant impact on the public.

Owners of a project are required to disclose information about the project proposal, preparations, procurement and construction process until the project's completion.

The CoST panel is also required to disclose such information about state projects via the Comptroller-General's Department website (www.cgd.go.th), while each state-owned enterprise is required to disclose the process of development projects via its own website.

Started by Britain with the support of the World Bank, the CoST initiative aims to improve value for money spent on public infrastructure by increasing transparency and accountability in the delivery of construction projects.

Mr Kobsak said the government will later set up an assurance team to take legal action if wrongdoing is found in state construction projects.

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