An inquiry will be launched into the role of interior officials involved in the process of granting a permit to a company under the Krathing Daeng (Red Bull) group to use public land in Khon Kaen.
Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said the probe targets all the officials involved because their paperwork contradicts fresh findings suggesting local residents are opposed to the land use.
The Land Department earlier confirmed there is no paperwork showing objections from local villagers.
Gen Anupong said the fresh findings are reported by a committee set up to gather facts about the company's application to use 31 rai of the Huay Mek public land in tambon Ban Dong in Ubonrat district and the granting process.
The interior minister has come under fire for signing the document approving KTD Property Development Co's request to use the land despite local resistance. It is suspected the granting process may not be in compliance with the regulations.
"Initially it was found that local people signed a petition against it but the paperwork sent from the district office, to the province, to the Land Department and to the Interior Ministry shows there's no objection. So this can't be right," he said.
He said the interior permanent secretary will set up a panel to investigate all the officials involved and if the process is lawful, the land use permit stands. If not, the committee will find those who should be held accountable.
He said local residents can petition the district office to demand the land use permit be revoked. The provincial governor is authorised to revoke it without forwarding the issue to the Interior Ministry for approval.
According to Gen Anupong, the application process to use the land began in 2014 and by early 2016 the request was forwarded to the Interior Ministry which referred it back for clarifications involving six points.
A petition against the land use permit was lodged in February.
He said a new round of public hearings was held and it was concluded that there was no opposition from the stakeholders. The application was then forwarded to him for approval in June last year, only to be opposed again in August.
"An issue is why people still lodge a complaint despite the public hearing process. We need to find out with whom the petition was lodged and if it was given proper consideration," he said.