Local authorities in Siem Reap town on August 9 launched a collaborative effort to restore the Siem Reap River. SIEM REAP ADMINISTRATION
Seven communities along the Siem Reap River are uniting to remove floating rubbish and plants, aiming to enhance the river’s beauty. This communal action follows concerns over the river’s appearance.
On August 9, local authorities in Siem Reap town launched a collaborative effort to restore the river. The work spans from the bridge near the Royal Residence down to the bridge at the former crocodile farm.
“The Siem Reap town administration and the seven communes along the Siem Reap River will continue to pay more attention to this clean-up activity in order to maintain and improve the beauty of the town until the construction along the river has been completed and the water flow has returned to normal,” said the administration.
The Siem Reap provincial administration revealed on August 6 that the closure of the inflow and outflow caused an increase in algae and debris in the river. But the closure was necessary to avoid hindrance to the river restoration project phase II, set for completion in 2024.
Siem Reap commune chief Mai Samet, who is leading the clean-up team, spoke about the collaboration and resources of the local administration.
“We are responsible for cleaning the river. We have 20 people working on this, two of whom are women, and five people from Chong Kneas commune. We are using one motor boat, two other boats, and two fishing nets,” he said.
Sea Sophal, director of NGO2 Bamboo Shoot Foundation, remarked on the teamwork and efficient techniques employed.
“We have 25 people involved in these cleaning activities. We make sure everything is planned and ready, and then we start cleaning by using fishing nets to drag the garbage from the river to the land,” he said.
Sophal also noted that the work might continue regularly until the second phase of the river restoration project is finished. Otherwise, the river water could revert to its original state due to litter and plant regrowth.
The Siem Reap River rehabilitation project phase II is 4.6 km long, funded by the Export-Import Bank of the Republic of Korea. The initiative aims to prevent flooding in Siem Reap town and has been underway since the beginning of 2022, with a scheduled duration of two years and eight months.
