Phnom Penh: New Achievements in the Project of Flood Prevention and Improvement of Sewerage System Phase 4 was officially inaugurated on the morning of April 20, 2022 under the presidency of the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen, which this project will facilitate to the livelihood of the people from the floods and the blockage of drainage canals.

The fourth phase of the Phnom Penh Flood Prevention and Drainage Improvement Project, with a total budget of approximately US $ 30 million, is a grant from the Government of Japan.

The project includes the installation of an 8.2 km sewerage network in Toul Kork district, the installation of 4.4 km sewerage network in Daun Penh district, the construction of an underground sewerage tank and the construction of a pumping station in front of The Council for the Development of Cambodia CDC installs automatic mechanical arm to collect garbage in front of the drainage road at Chaktomuk Pumping Station, Preah Konlong 1, Preah Konlong 2 and Old Market and provides 2 mobile pumping trucks.

Phnom Penh Governor Mr. Khuong Sreng said at the inauguration ceremony that the new achievements in the flood prevention and improvement project, the fourth phase of the drainage system will help relieve flooding due to rain in Phnom Penh, reduce the duration of prolonged flooding and to public hygiene.

He said "The benefits of implementing the flood protection project and the improvement of the drainage system in the fourth phase have contributed significantly to solving the problem of rainfall in the central area of Phnom Penh to avoid long duration flooding in the implementation area. The project will be an important part of the system for improving public hygiene in response to population growth, economic growth, urbanization and urban expansion in line with the land use plan in Phnom Penh in 2035 and the development plan of the Phnom Penh Capital Administration. "

Acting Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Japan in the Kingdom of Cambodia, Mr. Karimata Azozhi, said that while Cambodia is experiencing economic growth, Phnom Penh has also experienced urbanization, but at the same time due to the low terrain, Phnom Penh Faces flooding with rain.

"The establishment of a canal-drainage system is an indispensable task for further development in Phnom Penh and improving the living environment of the people in Phnom Penh," he said.

The Citizens who attended the inauguration ceremony of the achievements in the project of flood prevention and improvement of drainage system expressed their happiness with these achievements. They said that the problems in Phnom Penh caused by floods, rain and sewer blockages have made it difficult for them to live. At the same time, they feel that when this achievement is put into use, those problems are reduced.

A resident of Chroy Changvar commune, Phnom Penh, Mr. You Metry, 26 years old, said: "Before it was stuck, but now it doesn’t. It easy to flow and clean. They do well; flow faster than before, it does not cause difficulties for motorcyclists when riding a motorbike."

Mr. Ou Hul, 69, a resident of Wat Phnom commune said: “In the past, it was very difficult for the rainy season to block all places on Sisowath Quay, but now it is easy to say because the Japanese build roads and make drainage. Now it does not flood, it used to flood. If it rains heavily for less than half an hour [the flow] is easy."

Another resident of Phsar Thmei II, 65-year-old Mrs Chan Sokha, said: After Pol Pot regime, the central market, the old market, and Royal Palace, it was very flooded, but after the Japanese sewer system came to help our government, it was raining, there was no flood, and it was all clean."

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony this morning, PM Hun Sen said that the construction of the drainage system is to solve and facilitate the lives of people who have been affected by floods.

He stated that "The projects that have been done for Phnom Penh are certainly costly, but they have also brought a lot of benefits to the people living in Phnom Penh, as well as in the lower reaches of our river, since it avoids flooding, which is always damaging and disturbing to the people."

It should be noted that the construction project to prevent floods and improve the drainage system in Phnom Penh, Phase 4, was presided over by PM Hun Sen on March 4, 2019. The project will take about 36 months to build, starting on December 1, 2018 and ending on October 31, 2021.