The Kandal provincial authorities on May 21 handed over 171 homes to people affected by the construction of a new international airport in Kandal province's Kandal Stung district.

The affected individuals had been living on embankments inside the premises of the new airport in Boeung Khyang commune's Ta Prohm village, the provincial administration noted in an announcement.

Provincial governor Kong Sophorn admitted that construction would have some environmental and social impact, but billed the project as an opportunity for economic development, not only for the nation, but for locals.

Measuring 5m by 8m, the homes were built on 5m by 20m plots of land.

The new airport will be a 4F class airport, occupying 2,600ha in Kandal Stung and slightly protruding into Takeo province's northernmost Bati district. It will be the main airport serving the capital, replacing the current Phnom Penh International Airport, which sits on a 400ha parcel of land.