An inspection by local authorities yesterday found no rotten rice at a warehouse that stores a large amount of pledged rice in Chachoengsao's Phanom Sarakham district.
Chachoengsao governor Rerngsak Mahawinitchaimontri yesterday led a team of officials to inspect the warehouse. Reporters were also invited to observe the inspection.
The check followed locals' complaints that rice stored at the warehouse has been damaged by rainfall coming through holes in the roof of the warehouse. Some of the paddy has become rotten and is emitting a foul smell, local people said.
The warehouse is owned by the Marketing Organisation for Farmers and stores rice pledged in the 2011/2012 season.
Speaking after the inspection, Mr Rerngsak said more than 100,000 sacks of rice weighing more than 10,000 tonnes stored at the warehouse are well-kept and remain in good condition.
There was no foul smell or flour beetle contamination as claimed. The roof also had no holes in it to allow the rain to come through, he said.
However, reporters observing the inspection said that they found clear signs of rice sacks being covered with flour beetles.
They also said officials led them to see only rice sacks at the far end of the warehouse, but did not take them to inspect the rice sacks which were reported to have deteriorated.
Deputy Commerce Ministry Nattawut Saikuar yesterday denied claims of rotten rice in government stockpiles.
The government is more than willing for rice stockpiles at warehouses run by the Public Warehouse Organisation under the Commerce Ministry to be carried out, he said.