Officials planted fruit trees on 71 plots of land and will continue the work until all 255 of the first phase of plots are completed, according to provincial environment department director Sun Kong. SPM
Environmental officials have cleared 351ha of forest in the Run Ta Ek area in Siem Reap province’s Banteay Srei district, in preparation for the relocation of families from the Angkor Archaeological Park.
Officials planted fruit trees on 71 plots of land and will continue the work until all 255 of the first phase of plots are completed, according to provincial environment department director Sun Kong.
“To support the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, the Apsara National Authority [ANA] and the provincial administration, we have cleared 351ha with the assistance of rangers, department officials and members of the local community,” Kong told The Post on September 18.
He said environmental officials are also replanting trees and establishing fruit crops on the land, noting that there are 12 kinds of fruit crops including sweet bamboo and coconuts, with each plot receiving 19 trees.
“This was thanks to the generosity of environment minister Say Sam Al, who wants to see these trees grow and bear fruit to support the daily lives of the people. The ministry assisted with the planting.
In addition to supporting the Run Ta Ek area, environmental officials also helped the land management ministry and provincial administration to dismantle the homes and structures of those residents of Taksen Tbong and Trapeang Ses villages who lacked the strength to do so.
Local people planting fruit trees in at Run Ta Ek eco-village on September 17. SUPPLIED
Hai Yong, a representative of the project’s working group, said on September 18 that almost 2,000 families had been selected to receive plots of land in the Run Ta Ek area. On September 19, another draw was to be held for an additional 300 households in Veal village.
According to Yong, the goal is to remove any structures within the jurisdiction of the ANA that were built any later than 2004. The complex was added to the UNESCO census list that year, meaning that all existing structures were registered with UNESCO.
Any construction which took place after this was illegal, and would be demolished, he added.
“The government, as well as the ANA, will consider which buildings are high risk, predominantly based on the area in which they are located. Obviously, we need to remove all structures from the precise areas which were recognised by UNESCO – specifically Taksen Tbong, Veal and Trapeang Ses villages,” he said.
He added that all structures outside of these areas would be examined carefully before a decision is made.
