The government has decided to allocate 83ha surrounding Tamok Lake (Kob Srov lake) to the Phnom Penh municipal administration and the National Police to establish a garden and national park and construct the Central Security Department buildings and infrastructures.

In a letter dated March 13, Council of Ministers secretary of state Chhit Sokhom said: “The Royal Government approves granting 75ha of land of the lake in Prek Pnov’s district’s Kouk Roka commune in Phnom Penh to establish a garden and a national park in the capital.”

A separate letter with the same date addressed to Minister of Interior Sar Kheng, Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth and Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Chea Sophara said: “The Royal government approves granting 8ha of land of Tamok Lake in Prek Pnov’s district’s Kouk Roka commune in Phnom Penh to construct buildings and infrastructures of the Ministry of Interior’s Central Security Department.”

Council of Ministers’ spokesman Ek Tha told The Post on Wednesday that he was unaware of the decision.

“Generally speaking, the government’s decision always serves the interests of the public, the country and the people,” he said.

In a letter dated August 2, 2018, the Council of Ministers informed ministers Pornmoniroth and Sophara, and the Phnom Penh governor that the government had agreed in principle to grant 20ha of the lake’s land to build a market to supply vegetables and a car parking lot.