PHNOM PENH: The Governor of Battambang Province, Sok Lou, chaired a meeting on the technical design of the terraces, signs and sidewalks in the Battambang City Heritage Preservation Area to preserve the beauty of this former French colony and heritage city.

The meeting chaired by Governor Sok Lou on Wednesday, 20 April, was held at Battambang Provincial Hall, and discussed the establishment of a working group to study the removal of balconies, the design and construction of a new balcony face, and the study of the cost of construction. The process of clearly informing and explaining the project to dismantle and renovate the balconies of old colonial buildings to the people who live in the area was also discussed.

Governor Sok Lou confirmed that this project was being launched in order to preserve the beauty of the old houses left from the French colonial period, which would help increase the value of the Battambang city heritage site.

In addition, the Governor also urged the relevant provincial authorities in Battambang, especially those stationed at roads around markets, to arrange public order, and to also quickly address environmental issues and garbage in the city to make sure Battambang does not become a city afflicted by high levels of garbage, and to ensure that Battambang will be beautiful during all seasons.

He also ordered for a study on the possibility of setting up parking lots and photographic locations at the Lok Ta Dambang Kranhong roundabout, and to also plant more trees in the city to make Battambang more attractive and green, and to increase the tourism potential in the province.

Battambang is the second largest province in Cambodia, and its city is located along the Sangker River, where there are also the largest number of old houses from the French colonial period. This makes Battambang a national and world heritage site that attracts both national and international tourists.

Battambang was also the most visited province during the Khmer New Year earlier this month, recording more than 650,000 tourists during this period.