Suchart counters Rakchanok on Groundwater Budget Allocation

Thairath•Politics•20d ago

Reader Briefing

Minister Suchart Chomklin denies allegations by MP Rakchanok Srinok regarding the concentrated allocation of groundwater budgets in Bhumjaithai Party areas.

•Suchart Chomklin addressed allegations regarding 6,500 million baht in groundwater budgets on August 5, 2026.
•Rakchanok Srinok claimed over half of the budget was concentrated in Bhumjaithai Party MP areas.
•Suchart Chomklin asserted that budget requests were organic and based on local administration needs from 2023-2026.

Overview

•Suchart Chomklin gave an interview at Government House on August 5, 2026, before a Cabinet meeting.
•Rakchanok Srinok observed that over half of the 6,500 million baht groundwater budget was concentrated in Bhumjaithai Party MP areas.
•Suchart Chomklin stated that over 5,000 million baht of the budget is for bidding via TORs and based on requests from local administrative organizations between 2023 and 2026.
•Suchart Chomklin claimed Rakchanok Srinok lacks the necessary knowledge for professional opposition auditing.
•Suchart Chomklin instructed the Director-General of the Department of Groundwater Resources to ensure all requests aligned with water plans approved by the Office of the National Water Resources.
•Suchart Chomklin mentioned that over 1,000 million baht in budget was distributed to the Kla Dharma Party.
•Suchart Chomklin asserted that budget allocation is based on drought-stricken areas and local requests, not on the number of MPs.
•Suchart Chomklin expressed confidence in his ability to clarify the budget allocations if a debate is filed.

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Source: Thairath (Original)

Key Quotes

Suchart Chomklin

"I believe I am the person who preserves the national interest the most in the agency I am responsible for."

ผมว่าผมเป็นคนรักษาผลประโยชน์ประเทศชาติสูงที่สุดในหน่วยงานที่ผมรับผิดชอบอยู่

Key Entities

Person

Suchart Chomklin(สุชาติ ชมกลิ่น)ℹ️

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.

Rakchanok Srinok(รักชนก ศรีนอก)

List MP from the People's Party.

Organization

Bhumjaithai Party(พรรคภูมิใจไทย)ℹ️

A political party whose MP areas were alleged to have concentrated budget allocations.

People's Party(พรรคประชาชน)

The political party of Rakchanok Srinok.

Department of Groundwater Resources(กรมทรัพยากรน้ำบาดาล)

The agency responsible for the 6,500 million baht groundwater budget.

Office of the National Water Resources(สำนักงานทรัพยากรน้ำแห่งชาติ (สทนช.))ℹ️

The organization that must approve groundwater requests.

Kla Dharma Party(พรรคกล้าธรรม)

A political party that received over 1,000 million baht in budget distribution.

Local Administrative Organizations(องค์การปกครองส่วนท้องถิ่น (อปท.))

The entities that submitted organic budget requests for groundwater.

Place

Chonburi Province(จ.ชลบุรี)ℹ️

The location of Suchart Chomklin's constituency area 1.