The Kampong Chhnang Provincial Administration plans to remove four communes from Rolea Ba’ier district and incorporate them into Kampong Chhnang town.

Provincial governor Sun Sovannarith told The Post on August 5 that the plan will be submitted to the government for approval, and a master plan will be drawn up for the town to develop further infrastructure.

He said the provincial administration has initiated the plan to enlarge the town in response to population growth and bringing the town up to standard.

“We have reviewed this plan for some time with the Asian Development Bank [ADB],” he said.

Sovannarith said the four communes to be removed from Rolea Ba’ier district are Chrey Bakk, Sre Thmey, Pongro, and Svay Chrum. This new commune will fall under the town administration.

“Until now, the new master plan for Kampong Chhnang town has been studied 90 per cent. When the master plan is finished, the provincial administration will request the government to approve it and incorporate these four communes [into the town],” he said.

He said ADB and the German international development agency GIZ joined the provincial administration in developing the project, the master plan and providing financial and technical support.

Kampong Chhnang town governor Yin Saven said the town’s progress requires that it be enlarged. The town has four communes already and if new communes are added, land area will increase in proportion to the population growth. He also expressed his commitment to proper management and serving the people.

“This is my idea. If the provincial administration prepares it, I am very thankful. We will enlarge the town up to government standards. No matter how large this expansion is, I will manage it well,” he said.

Kampong Chhnang province consists of one town, seven districts, 66 communes and 569 villages. The province has an area of 552,100ha and 130,978 families representing 550,890 people with an annual population growth of 1.28 per cent, according to the provincial administration.