The Por Sen Chey district administration has notified residents to remove constructions that blocked drainage systems and contributed to recent flooding in the capital.

Officials delivered the instructions to people living in the Borey Piphob Thmei II gated community in Chaom Chao commune I’s Trapaing Thloeng IV village on October 28 and gave them 10 days to remove the obstacles.

District governor Hem Darith told The Post on Monday that over 10 families had voluntarily agreed to remove their constructions while some requested a delay.

“If they refuse to remove their constructions, police will remove them without taking responsibility for any damage. We are looking into the request for delay, but in the case that constructions are built on sewage covers, removal cannot be delayed.

“They must be removed urgently. When the 10-day ultimatum expires and they still haven’t removed their constructions, we will remove them,” he said.

Darith added officials would mark all illegally built constructions trespassing on public pavements, sewage rims and covers across the district.

“We will start first in the Borey Piphob Thmei in Trapaing Thloeng IV village because it is a chronically flooded place. It will set an example for other [gated communities] to follow,” he said.

He instructed local authorities to take measures to stop such encroachment.

“They must not let those constructions happen anymore. They have to do whatever it takes to now allow such constructions to continue.

Affiliated Network for Social Accountability executive director San Chey agreed that additionally built constructions affect drainage systems and public roads.

He urged the authorities to come up with a means to release water over a long term.

“If authorities establish major canals to release water in this area, it not only helps Borey residents in Trapaing Thloeng IV village but also others who live in the upper part of the Por Sen Chey district,” he said.