Koh Santepheap newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
The filling of Boeng Kob Srov Lake which got the attention from the public last week, seems to be concluded at the end of this week, following a strong reaction from Lim Kean Hor, the minister of water resources and meteorology. A report indicated that the lake filling operation took place in Kandal province by the Long Chhin Resorts company. The report also indicated that this company plans to build a recreation area. Nevertheless, this action is an extremely bad case of land-grabbing, and even lakes are being filled in for grabbing. This is not different from the case of Boeng Samrong located not too far from Pohnea Loeu district, where people have filled almost all the lake which extents on several hundred of hectares.
During the plenary meeting of the council of ministers in the morning of 27 July, prime minister Hun Sen said that regarding the case of the Kob Srov lake could lead to the removal of two high ranking officials from the Kandal province, and these officials would be deputy provincial governors. There is no indication about the identity of these two officials yet, or whether they will be immediately removed from their positions. Nevertheless, the names of these two officials are already unofficially known, and they are involved in the filling operation of the Kob Srov Lake. On 25 July, a new committee was formed with 9 institutions participating in the resolution, and this committee was formed after the reaction expressed by Lim Kean Hor who defended the entire extent of the Kob Srov Lake, and he claimed that the lake is very important for the drainage of water for the city of Phnom Penh.
He rejected the claim that this operation received the proper legal authorization by saying that there is no such authorization for land filling of the lake. The ministry of water resources and meteorology was responsible for building the Kob Srov dike with an aid from Japan, this dike is located north of Phnom Penh city. Boeng Kob Srov is important for the protection against flooding, and should the city of Phnom Penh be flooded, the amount of damage would be very significant, therefore the filling of the lake is a violation which should be dealt with. According to the 2001 land law, it is stipulated that all lakes are public lands belonging to the state, and they cannot be sold, and no institution is allowed to issue the ownership title to them.
Boeng Kob Srov is located in Russei Keo district, Phnom Penh city, it is located next to a solid dike extending about 3-kilometer long which also serves as a road. The dike was built with a multi-million dollar aid from Japan. This dike protects the northern portion of the city from flooding for many decades. Last May, a number of people have posted their phone numbers looking for land buyers (under the Kob Srov lake), claiming that the flooded lands are their properties in the Kob Srov Lake, nevertheless, the city of Phnom Penh replied with determination that it will protect the extent of the lake, and it also confiscated back lands. This city directive said that claims on the ownership of the Kob Srov Lake will be rejected.
Pa Socheatvong, the deputy governor of the city of Phnom Penh, said, on 22 July, that the portion of the Kob Srov Lake which was filled in is under the responsibility of the Kandal provincial authority. Nevertheless, Pa Socheatvong said that nobody in this company (Long Chhin Resorts) received the authorization to fill in the lake at all. Pa Socheatvong declared: “This is a bad place for a recreation area, because flood water in Phnom Penh city will be pumped into this lake.” He said that: “Those who are conducting this activity are doing it to grab land for business purposes. I think they will face the law.”
During the plenary meeting of the council of ministers in the morning of 27 July, prime minister Hun Sen said that regarding the case of the Kob Srov lake could lead to the removal of two high ranking officials from the Kandal province, and these officials would be deputy provincial governors. There is no indication about the identity of these two officials yet, or whether they will be immediately removed from their positions. Nevertheless, the names of these two officials are already unofficially known, and they are involved in the filling operation of the Kob Srov Lake. On 25 July, a new committee was formed with 9 institutions participating in the resolution, and this committee was formed after the reaction expressed by Lim Kean Hor who defended the entire extent of the Kob Srov Lake, and he claimed that the lake is very important for the drainage of water for the city of Phnom Penh.
He rejected the claim that this operation received the proper legal authorization by saying that there is no such authorization for land filling of the lake. The ministry of water resources and meteorology was responsible for building the Kob Srov dike with an aid from Japan, this dike is located north of Phnom Penh city. Boeng Kob Srov is important for the protection against flooding, and should the city of Phnom Penh be flooded, the amount of damage would be very significant, therefore the filling of the lake is a violation which should be dealt with. According to the 2001 land law, it is stipulated that all lakes are public lands belonging to the state, and they cannot be sold, and no institution is allowed to issue the ownership title to them.
Boeng Kob Srov is located in Russei Keo district, Phnom Penh city, it is located next to a solid dike extending about 3-kilometer long which also serves as a road. The dike was built with a multi-million dollar aid from Japan. This dike protects the northern portion of the city from flooding for many decades. Last May, a number of people have posted their phone numbers looking for land buyers (under the Kob Srov lake), claiming that the flooded lands are their properties in the Kob Srov Lake, nevertheless, the city of Phnom Penh replied with determination that it will protect the extent of the lake, and it also confiscated back lands. This city directive said that claims on the ownership of the Kob Srov Lake will be rejected.
Pa Socheatvong, the deputy governor of the city of Phnom Penh, said, on 22 July, that the portion of the Kob Srov Lake which was filled in is under the responsibility of the Kandal provincial authority. Nevertheless, Pa Socheatvong said that nobody in this company (Long Chhin Resorts) received the authorization to fill in the lake at all. Pa Socheatvong declared: “This is a bad place for a recreation area, because flood water in Phnom Penh city will be pumped into this lake.” He said that: “Those who are conducting this activity are doing it to grab land for business purposes. I think they will face the law.”
3 comments:
In this decade, the government should reacts quickly to the crimes that very intense. In all over the Kingdom of Cambodia people are dumping earth in Lakes and Ponds to grab land.
we are Cambodian should be proud to have all lakes and ponds with fresh water to drink, but many high ranking criminals are a whole bunch of Idiot PHD didn't understand what It mean for the future of the Nation.
Many country on the Planet earth are fighting for Fresh Water, because Fresh Water are the sources of lives and the developement of the Nation. But Cambodia is trying to abolish Fresh Water lakes and ponds.
These acts are very dangerous to the Nation fo Cambodia and any Company that filling the lake, the government should make them digging out all with million dollars charged
Idoit government!!!! What have you all done? Why dnt you all react for the first drop of lake filling? Where hve you idoits been? If you look at the Long Chin Resort now it seems the "Rice Has Been Cooked".
I heard that Long Chin Manager said that it was Hun sen who authorized the filling. Lets remove him and pls dnt use others to be his scapegoats.
Everyone should thank the G-man.
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