Phnom Penh’s Municipal authorities plan to deploy an arsenal of portable toilets for the influx of people attending November’s Water Festival, municipal officials said yesterday. The festival was cancelled four times in the past five years for a litany of reasons, but appears set to move forward in 2016.

Sang Piseth, director of the Phnom Penh Municipal Public Works and Transportation Department, said 422 toilets will be brought to public parks throughout the city, including Wat Botum Park, Freedom Park and Hun Sen Park, among others.

Colourful lights will also be used to decorate the city, and 290 people will be employed to clean the parks, officials said.

Khoung Sreng, deputy governor of Phnom Penh, said City Hall is placing safety cameras on public roads and other parks as part of an ongoing initiative. “The safety cameras will help the authorities make the city secure for people who come to enjoy the boat festival in our capital,” he said.

Sreng said City Hall officials have not yet discussed how security forces will be deployed to ensure safety during the festival. Municipal police Chief Choun Sovann could not be reached.