Owners remove illegal constructions in Siem Reap without protest

SIEM Reap provincial authorities are removing all illegal constructions that encroach on public roads, streams, canals and rivers as it constructs 38 roads in the province.

More than 2,000 buildings are affected, but there hasn’t been a single protest.

Siem Reap provincial deputy governor Ly Samrith told The Post on Tuesday that the owners were given 10 days – September 23 to October 2 – to remove the obstructions, which is now almost complete.

The remaining constructions, he said, belonged to those who were unable to dismantle them within the deadline. “The owners have already contracted companies to remove them, but they have yet to arrive,” he said.

Samrith said all 100 per cent of those whose buildings are affected by the plan cooperated with the authorities.

He said house fences and awnings were convenient to remove and less time-consuming. While houses were more difficult as it was time-consuming.

“In maybe one to two more days, we will calculate the result of all construction removal. The number of affected structures was no more than 2,000 and most were awnings and house fences,” he said.

Siem Reap provincial Adhoc investigator Sous Narin, who observed the removal of the affected constructions, said on Tuesday that people volunteered to remove them without protest.

“We have not received any complaints regarding the removal. People agreed to remove them by themselves after authorities went to observe. We did not see protests or opposition from anyone,” he said.

Narin said there is no compensation policy.

Siem Reap provincial governor Tea Seiha thanked the people for their cooperation.

“Even though we lack builders now, our people put in the effort to allow for the development of roads in Siem Reap so it will become a beautiful town with a fresh environment to welcome national and international tourists post-Covid-19,” he said.

Seiha led delegates to visit 34 roads in Preah Sihanouk on October 4 as an example of what can be achieved in Siem Reap.

The decision to establish and improve 38 roads in the province was announced by Minister of National Defence Tea Banh.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said he will release $150 million in funding to develop the roads as quickly as possible. The 38 road construction projects are scheduled to be officially kicked off by Prime Minister Hun Sen on November 16.