{
  "id": 5711694,
  "title": "Anti-corruption page questions Mukdahan solar streetlight project",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/anti-corruption-page-questions-mukdahan-solar-streetlight-project",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-05T04:00:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Thaiger",
    "slug": "the-thaiger",
    "url": "https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/politics/anti-corruption-page-questions-mukdahan-solar-streetlight-project"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "An anti-corruption Facebook page has questioned the spacing of light poles in a solar streetlight project in Mukdahan, Thailand. According to the post on September 3, the project, valued at 9.9 million baht, includes 148 sets of 50 watt LED solar-powered streetlights. Each set comes with a height-adjustable pole on a steel pile foundation. The post raised concerns over whether the poles had been installed too close together.\n\nThe project is owned by Mukdahan's Nikhom Kham Soi Subdistrict Municipality. Mayor Chalong Bootkarn said the installation had already begun before he assumed office. He claimed the lights improve safety and visibility, benefiting the local community, a sports ground, a government agency, and a Buddhist temple. The mayor also noted that elderly residents use the road for morning exercises.\n\nResponding to the concerns, the anti-corruption page called for the responsible agency to release the project's bill of quantities, price per set, installation-point layout plans, pole spacing, and engineering calculations. The post posed four questions, including whether the dense spacing was necessary, what justifies the per-unit price, whether an engineering calculation exists for the spacing and light coverage, and if the public received value for nearly 10 million baht.",
  "summary": "A Facebook page called STRONG Anti-Corruption Thailand questions whether 148 solar poles in Nikhom Kham Sroi sit too close, as Mayor Chalong Bootkarn says the project predates him. The story Anti-corruption page questions Mukdahan solar streetlight project as seen on Thaiger News .",
  "key_points": [
    "Anti-corruption page questions light pole spacing in Mukdahan solar project",
    "Project valued at 9.9 million baht includes 148 LED streetlight sets",
    "Mayor claims installation began before he took office"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The scrutiny of the Mukdahan solar streetlight project by an anti-corruption Facebook page puts pressure on the municipality to increase transparency and justify the project's costs and design choices.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}