Cambodia-Korea Inaugurate the Batheay Flood Control Project

Kampuchea Thmey Daily

Vol: 8, # 1853, Thursday, January 22, 2009

Phnom Penh: The Batheay Flood Control Project is located in two communes, Sam Bo and Chea Lea, Batheay District, Kampong Cham Province. It is in the north of Phnom Penh. It is the grant aids of the Republic of Korea and it was officially inaugurated on January 21, 2009.

This inauguration ceremony was celebrated in Batheay district, under the presidency of H.E. Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong, Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Inviting for the ceremony, H.E. Shin Hyun-suk, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Cambodia, H.E. Dr. Chang Hyun-sik, Vice president of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Mr. Sam Sarith, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology as well as government officials and local people.

Mr. Hor Namhong has informed that water resources policy is one essential part for preservation and management.

Mr. Hor Namhong went on to say that Royal government of Cambodia will develop the irrigation system and water resources management by improving the efficiency of irrigation system and reducing the natural disaster. This new achievement was possible because of the cleverest of our government leaders.

Mr. Sam Sarith, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology reported that the Batheat Flood Control project is located in SamBo and Chea Lea communes, Batheay district, Kampong Cham province. It is 50 km north of Phnom Penh. This dike was built in Pol Pot Regime in year 1976-1978. Due to not enough fund for operation and maintenance the dike was erosion and broken newly all. In the rainy season, the Mekong River Flood caused to damage rice and other crops of the farmers.

Mr. Sam Sarith has also confirmed that the total cost of project implantation in phase I amount 2,452,015.00 USD, starting construction on June 26, 2007 and finishing on February 25, 2009. The fund from the government of the Republic of Korea amount 1,790,600.00 USD was spent on dike construction and irrigation canal system. The fund from the Royal government of Cambodia amount 66,415.00 was spent on affective land compensation. 5650 families’ household equal 30,500 people in 20 villages, 2 communes, Sam Bo and Chea Lea in Batheay district, Kampong Cham province have go benefits. For the propose scope of works (phase II), they will design and construction irrigation canal system of total length 61km and irrigation structure around 20 places and formulation Farmer Water User Communities (FWUCs) for operation and maintenance in this project.

Dr. Chang Hyun-sik has informed that the Republic of Korea has cooperated partnership in the economic sector since 1996 and now Korea has cooperated on agricultural sector for expanding irrigated agriculture.

In this Batheay district, it is very difficult to secure and supply of essential water resources. It is with this in mind that KOICA initiated the “Batheay Flood Control Project” amounting to 2 million US dollars as an effective model for irrigation systems in Cambodia.

As for H.E. Shin Hyun-suk, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea has stated that Korea has played a leading role in various fields such as tourism, investment, cultural exchange, construction, IT, vocational training and banking and air traffic in Cambodia. Furthermore, the Korean Government, as one of Cambodia’s best friends, has made every effort to help Cambodia’s development through grant aids and soft loans. These grant aids were focus on the poverty reduction and improvement of economic and social infrastructure, rural development and water resources development based on Korea’s experience of overcoming poverty and economic development.