CARETAKER Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the sinkhole that opened up on Rama II road early this morning (Jan. 17) leading to a pickup truck plunging in was due to a water pipe rupturing but this is due negligence and not faulty design or construction method, PPTVHD36 said.
Amid public concern about repeated accidents on this road, Anutin said these were not caused by any weakness in the concrete structure being built there but rather not using a technique on lifting loads.
Many netizens commented on the frequent accidents on Rama II road, with the latest being a big crane from an overhead construction falling on two pickup trucks and killing the two drivers on Thursday just one day after another big crane at the construction of a high-speed rail bridge fell on a Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani train just as it was passing Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) killing 30 people and injuring dozens others.
Anutin mentioned that he had given an order to halt construction or cancel the contract because pursuing civil contractual obligations is not workable.
“If I say it’s up to the relevant agency, people will complain, ‘why don’t you pressure them?’. But the agency will then say they haven’t done anything wrong. If we use administrative power, they’ll say, ‘why not use contractual measures?’ You can’t please everyone.
“There are those who want to politicise this, even though it’s not a political issue, it’s an engineering matter. It’s alright, the government has already ordered the use of administrative power. Those who receive the order must comply. The Prime Minister doesn’t have the right to himself sign contract cancellation. The Prime Minister, as head of the government, has already given the order. Those who don’t comply, if they are civil servants, can face charges under Section 157,” Anutin said.
When asked whether the Transport Ministry had reported any progress on the contract, Anutin replied, “They have their own procedures.”
Meanwhile the Highways Department clarified that the subsidence that occurred at kilometre 29+350 of Rama II road inbound to Bangkok was due to Samut Sakhon Municipality Water Supply Division having excavated the road to connect a 1,000-millimetre diameter water pipe then compacted and restored the road surface. Subsequently, a water pipe burst, causing the road surface to subside in this area.
The Department of Highways has dispatched officers to the site to manage traffic and ensure the safety of road users. They have also coordinated with Samut Sakhon Municipality officers, who have arrived at the site to inspect and resolve the situation.
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The sinkhole on Rama II road and Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul talking to the press. Photos – Amarin TV
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