Illegal excavation of public roads to result in cut of water, power

THE Preah Sihanouk Prov incia l Administration has warned t hat it will cut of f clean water and electricit y supply for five months to any person or entit y t hat excavates public roads without permission.

The warning was issued on Monday via an announcement entit led Prohibition of excavation and clearing of public roads land, along boulevards, streets and substreets in Preah Sihanouk province.

Administrative of ficia ls inspected the roads and found t hat some residents, operators and related professiona l institutions excavated and cleared land considered to be State public roads without permission, causing some damage.

In t he announcement, prov incia l governor Kouch Chamroeun instructed t he of fending parties to apply to t he prov incia l administration before excavating and clearing public land. When applications are received, professiona l officers perform technica l inspections of t he locations to avoid eventual damage.

“In case you do not follow the above instructions, the

Preah Sihanouk Provincial Administration will suspend your water and electricity supply for five months,” he said.

He pointed to Article 77 of the Law on Roads to remind all relevant parties to participate in the elimination of any unpermitted activities that can damage State property.

Article 77 states: “Any person who performs any public works without the permission of the road management authority and causes damage to the body of the road, the sidewalk, the curb or the remaining land of the roadside must repair it to the original status.

“Offending parties will be sentenced to two to five years in prison and fined four million riel ($977) to 10 million riel.”

Provincial hall spokesman Kheang Phearum confirmed to The Post on Tuesday that from the date of the announcement, the provincial administration would begin implementing administrative measures against residents as well as operators and professional institutions that continue to excavate and clear public roads without permission.

“We hope that the people, operators and relevant professiona l units will participate in implementing t he content of t his notice ef fect ively,” he said.