Phnom Penh Post, Issue 16 / 26, December 28, 2007 - January 10, 2008
City hall is working to get all the roads in Phnom Penh paved by the end of 2008. The plan will split costs with residents and begin with the central districts.
Mann Chhoeun, deputy governor of Phnom Penh municipality, said that 7 Makara will be the first among seven districts in Phnom Penh to have all its roads paved.
After that will come the two central districts of Daun Penh and Chamkarmon, and then Tuol Kork.
The outer districts of Dangkor, Mean Chey and Russey Keo are also scheduled to be completed by the end of 2008.
"Some roads are also being expanded," Chhoeun said. "We are working smoothly with local residents and they are happy to join with us."
"Happy to join with us" means that the local residents are being asked to share the costs, according to Prime Minister Hun Sen, who announced the plan at a December 13 groundbreaking ceremony for the riverside flood protection and drainage improvement phase II.
Hun Sen ordered city hall authorities to get the roads paved in a 50-50 cost-splitting arrangement with residents.
"We welcome the participation from the residents to clean up our city environment," said Hun Sen.
Residents apparently do not have to pay for the streets surrounding schools. Those streets are "the responsibility of city hall," he said.
Some roads in Mean Chey and Tuol Kork districts remain dusty, crater-filled moonscapes that become flooded and peril-filled during the rainy season.
Chhoeun confirmed that those roads will be repaired in the near future.
One resident of Sangkat Boeng Tumpon said that residents are willing to pay to fix the roads because they are nearly impassable as is.
"Local authorities never care or solve residential matters," said a local resident who identified himself as Pheap. "We have problems with the poor drainage and flash flooding. We are ready to help, to repair the road and make a new drainage system, but they never come."
Kuoch Chamroeun, governor of Mean Chey district, said that 11 roads in the district are being worked on and authorities are looking for collaboration with local residents to fix 36 other roads.
However, he said some families could not afford to pay their share of the road building.
"We have some problems with contributions from some local residents," Chamroeun said. "The living standards of people are not equal."
Mann Chhoeun, deputy governor of Phnom Penh municipality, said that 7 Makara will be the first among seven districts in Phnom Penh to have all its roads paved.
After that will come the two central districts of Daun Penh and Chamkarmon, and then Tuol Kork.
The outer districts of Dangkor, Mean Chey and Russey Keo are also scheduled to be completed by the end of 2008.
"Some roads are also being expanded," Chhoeun said. "We are working smoothly with local residents and they are happy to join with us."
"Happy to join with us" means that the local residents are being asked to share the costs, according to Prime Minister Hun Sen, who announced the plan at a December 13 groundbreaking ceremony for the riverside flood protection and drainage improvement phase II.
Hun Sen ordered city hall authorities to get the roads paved in a 50-50 cost-splitting arrangement with residents.
"We welcome the participation from the residents to clean up our city environment," said Hun Sen.
Residents apparently do not have to pay for the streets surrounding schools. Those streets are "the responsibility of city hall," he said.
Some roads in Mean Chey and Tuol Kork districts remain dusty, crater-filled moonscapes that become flooded and peril-filled during the rainy season.
Chhoeun confirmed that those roads will be repaired in the near future.
One resident of Sangkat Boeng Tumpon said that residents are willing to pay to fix the roads because they are nearly impassable as is.
"Local authorities never care or solve residential matters," said a local resident who identified himself as Pheap. "We have problems with the poor drainage and flash flooding. We are ready to help, to repair the road and make a new drainage system, but they never come."
Kuoch Chamroeun, governor of Mean Chey district, said that 11 roads in the district are being worked on and authorities are looking for collaboration with local residents to fix 36 other roads.
However, he said some families could not afford to pay their share of the road building.
"We have some problems with contributions from some local residents," Chamroeun said. "The living standards of people are not equal."
