Environment Minister Mok Mareth on Wednesday said he has ordered the permanent deployment of local garbage workers in Siem Reap town to clean up the river flowing through the heart of the provincial capital.
The buildup of rubbish around Siem Reap river is “ugly” and has become an eyesore to tourists, drawn there from around the world to visit the province’s Angkor temples, Mok Mareth said.
“I ordered [Siem Reap authorities] to deploy workers to pick up waste and clean the river permanently because we saw there was some ugliness in the river,” he said in an interview.
Chev Phal, Siem Reap’s provincial environment director, on Thursday said he would contact MICC, a private waste management company, to hire eight permanent workers. He added he hoped they could begin this week.
Many Siem Reap town residents applauded the minister’s order, though some warned that clearing the river’s waste may not be enough to reverse the damage.
“Much more than this measure is necessary to be taken to return the ancient river to the Siem Reap people,” Siem Reap teacher Hay Sophea said.
In addition to collecting waste dumped in the river, Hay Sophea called on authorities to better manage the town’s sewage systems.
“I need the river to be cleaner and deeper so we can enjoy swimming,” said Ria Soa, 45, who recalled how inviting the water in Siem Reap river was swimming there with her grandmother during her childhood. Now, she said, the river is no longer beautiful.
Siem Reap’s third deputy governor, Pech Sokhem, said the town’s authorities have so far taken several environmental measures. But, he said, it is difficult to control the sanitation of the river.
Pech Sokhem said about 600 families live along the river, contributing to the pollution with their garbage and sewage.
He said his authority plans to move those families to a new location away from the river, but does not have the money.
Environmentalists and experts have voiced their concern over the economic boom in Siem Reap province due to tourism.
During the past two to three years, the amount of solid waste collected by MICC has nearly doubled to 100 cubic meters per day, according to the company’s deputy director, Pov Sravuth.
At a meeting of the International Coordinating Committee of Angkor held early this week in Siem Reap, foreign donors and officials discussed plans for water management, environmental and infrastructure projects in the province and Angkor Archeological Park.
Meanwhile, the Royal University of Phnom Penh’s vice rector, Neth Barom, on Tuesday said the university, in collaboration with the University of Toronto, plans to train residents of Siem Reap town about solid waste management.
“We want to conduct a pilot project in Siem Reap because we fear this province is gradually seeing bigger challenges in preserving the urban environment,” Neth Barom said.
The pilot project, aided by funding from the Canadian International Development Agency, will begin in March and will involve Deum Kralanh town in Siem Reap’s Kork Chak commune, said Lay Sothy, project team leader.
