Villagers urged to inspect relief supplies

       The opposition warned the government yesterday to ensure transparency in the distribution of flood relief supplies,saying it should carefully monitor budget spending while extending help to the flood victims or it could see itself mired in another rotten canned fish scandal.
       Opposition chief whip Witthaya Buranasiri urged local administration organisations and villagers in the flood-hit areas to check the quality of humanitarian supplies being provided by state agencies.
       "Flood relief supply recipients should carefully check the items to see if they are still fit for consumption, otherwise you could end up having rotten canned fish in your bags again," Mr Witthaya said.
       He was referring to complaints by Phatthalung villagers over the distribution of rotten canned fish to flood victims in the southern province by the Social Development and Human Security Ministry earlier this year. The then social development and human security minister Witoon Nambutr resigned in February after the scandal broke.
       Although the flood situation has improved somewhat in many of the hardhit provinces, the weather bureau issued a new warning yesterday saying that more torrential downpours were expected over the next two weeks.
       In Ayutthaya, the Ratchaprachanukroh Foundation under the patronage of His Majesty the King yesterday distributed 1,000 flood relief kits to the affected people in Bang Ban district.
       Ayutthaya is among the 13 provinces in the Central, North and Northeast regions still encountering heavy flooding.
       Ayutthaya Governor Witthaya Phiewphong said yesterday the overall situation in the province had improved as floodwaters had begun to recede.
       However, the water level in major rivers running through the province, such as the Pa Sak, remained high and needed to be monitored continuously for the time being.
       In this province alone, about 25,200 families in nine districts have been affected.
       More heavy rain has been forecast for the East and the South where people have been told to prepare for more flash floods, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
       In Bangkok, Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the city was expected to face a run-off from the North on Oct 18 to 20 which could complicate matters with the possible arrival of Tropical Storm Parma, which has regained strength, and two more new tropical storms. Parma was yesterday moving westward toward the South China Sea.
       Flood relief officials in the city's drainage department have been alerted and are being readied for any emergency if needed, said the governor.