Road repair in flood-afflicted areas
FLOODWATERS are receding and authorities are actively repairing damaged roads in rural areas to allow people to travel.
Pailin provincial governor Phan Chanthol told The Post on Thursday that houses in Sala Krao district are no longer flooded and rice and other crops were not damaged.
“Many roads were damaged and need to be repaired immediately,” Chanthol said, while handing out food supplies to more than 100 families in Stung Trang commune, Sala Krao district.
He said teams from several departments of the provincial secretariat were collaborating on repairs to infrastructure, irrigation systems and reservoirs in the province that will cost about $3 million.
Preah Sihanouk Provincial Hall spokesman Kheang Phearum told The Post: “The urgent need is to repair damaged roads.” He did not know the total costs related to the damage as yet.
Oddar Meanchey Provincial Department of Public Works and Transport director Chhoeung Phallang told The Post there is no longer water on the Ta Mok bridge and his team is working to check and repair damaged roads.
“September 24 is Constitution Day, but my team is working to fix roads for citizens as soon as possible so they can travel and deliver their rice products and goods easily and quickly,” he said.
Rain for these several days caused floods on many roads in four districts – Banteay Ampil, Anlong Veng, Trapaing Prasat and Samrong – said
Phallang. More than 100 canals were also damaged.
Pursat Provincial Hall administrative director Khuth Usophea told The Post the water level in the Pursat River has fallen from the emergency level of 25cm.
“We have yet to calculate the overall cost of the damage,” he said.
National Committee for Disaster Management spokesman Khun Sokha called on people to look ahead and keep enough water on hand for the dry season.
“There are floods caused by rains but they last for a short while. We should find ways to keep water to use in the dry season as some citizens will face water shortages,” he said.
Sokha said installing reservoirs and irrigation systems is necessary once roads and infrastructure repairs are complete.