Flood Control Project in Batheay District was Established

Rasmei Kampuchea Daily

Vol: 16, #4644, Friday, July 18, 2008 (Page B 6)

Batheay, Kampong Cham: Under the effort of Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and as the central project director of Cambodian People Party (CPP), he has assisted Batheay district to round up the grant aid from development partner. Therefore, the flood control project was established in Batheay district. The construction was finished nearly fifty percent.

Mr. Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Mr. Park Dae Won, President of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) of the Republic of Korea went to visit the project on July 17, 2008. That project was supported by KOICA.

Mr. Yin Kim Horn, Batheay District Governor informed that that flood control project was over 14 km long. It started from Baek Peang village in Chea Lea commune to Sambo village in Sombo commune. The Advantage of this flood control project was as follows: 1- using as a dam for protecting flood 2- using as road transportation of agricultural product 3- helping people to increase their food product by making their rice field with thousand hectare of rice filed in Sambo commune and Chealea commune and other communes in Batheay district.

In front of hundred people who participated in the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong said that this flood control project was implemented two phases. First phase, we spend US$ 1,529,880 to construct dam and eight channels. The dam could keep the water to do farming around 3000 to 4500 hectare of rice field. The first phase would be finished soon. The second phase, we spend US$ 1,252,836 to improve dam quality and construct other 7 channels of 61 km long which could keep water to do farming around 800 hectare of rice field.

Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong also went on to say that when we successfully implemented this project, the villagers around 5,650 families or 30,000 people in these two communes could farm their rice field two or tree times per year and rice output will be increased twice.

At that time, Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong has informed the Policy Strategy of the Royal Government under wise leadership of Samdech Akkak Moha Sena Padei Tchor Hun Sen. Samdech would develop country and reduce Cambodian people poverty. He [Hor Namhong] also informed that people poverty reduction strategy of the royal government of Cambodia was focus on the priority work such as establishment of hydraulic system in the nationwide as we could see in Batheay district.

Mr. Park Dae Won stated to the village people with smiling and delighted face that he selected Cambodia for his first visit since he appointed as president of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). He went on to say that he was very delighted to meet people on the project site of flood control dam.

Mr. Park Dae Won told the village people that the situation in Cambodia was similar to his country last 30 years. He went on to say that “In the name of KOICA, I will assist to develop the villages in Batheay district and continue to assist the nationwide of Cambodia”.

Mr. Noy Thy, 44 years old, living in Chong village of Sambo commune, has informed that “I am very delighted with the royal government of Cambodia. H.E. Hor Namhong tries to find grant aid to develop our villages. I deeply hope that H.E. Hor Namhong as well as royal government of Cambodia will assist to develop our villages”.

Showing his happiness and congratulation on the achievement, Mr. Yim Yorn, 71 years old, living in Baek Peang village of Chea Lea commune stated that “through these channels and flood control dam, our villagers will have enough water for their farming. In the past, we do our farming according the sky. The situation is very difficult. It is sometimes drought or rain. I am very happy. H.E. Hor Namhong and our royal government could help our people to have good living in this farming”.

Mr. Yim Yorn also showed his convincement that “the government policy of Cambodia with Samdech Hun Sen as leader, he is leading the country to the right way”