Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Chea Sophara urged that infrastructure construction be expedited on more 600ha of land on the Cambodia-Vietnam border that was earmarked for distribution to veterans and their families, as well as the impoverished.

Sophara, he is also deputy prime minister, was inspecting the social land concession in Svay Rieng province’s Chantrea district on March 5.

“The government set aside 653ha on February 17. The first phase, 300ha in Kampong Ror and Chantrea districts, has been divided into residential areas between border post 200 from the point of Chantrea district to border demarcation No 202/ 2. A total of 1,236 residential plots of land were distributed, with each family receiving a plot of land which is 30m x 40m,” he said.

“Apart from residential plots, the provincial administration has also set aside space for markets, schools, pagodas, communal village land, border checkpoints and police stations. They have also assigned space for a women’s institution, a market and a public park,” he added.

The minister urged all relevant state institutions to expedite the preparation of infrastructure such as roads, access to clean water and electricity, and mine clearance.

“All of the residential buildings should meet the Kingdom’s highest construction standards,” he added.

He also asked Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam Orn to facilitate the construction of a 3ha market.

Svay Rieng provincial governor Men Vibol said he will comply with the instructions.

“I pledge to do everything in my power to make sure the appropriate infrastructure work is carried out smoothly and efficiently,” he said.

According to the land management ministry, this is the second social land concession project in Svay Rieng province. The first project, located in Chik Dey village of Romeas Hek district’s Andong Trabek commune, was implemented more than a decade ago on 153ha. At the time, each of 400 veterans of the armed force and police received a plot of land measuring 40m x 50m. Besides, 10km of roads, 20 road drains and 34 pump-wells were constructed.