Hundreds of families in Kandal province affected by the 88 canal flood mitigation project are worried that they will get a small compensation for their house and land as the canal development took off early August. It appeared that none of the villagers possessed details of the project or compensation.
On Wednesday last week, at least 10 excavators arrived to expand 88 canals along Boeung Khyang and Prek Sleng communes, impacting houses located on both sides of the canal. Soil was dumped into the people’s courtyards while some houses were spray-painted with markers and poles erected around their homes.
This has worried people whose houses are next to the canal, as some of them have yet to receive information about the project.
In 2023, villagers in Boeung Khyang commune were affected by the new international airport project, some of whom were threatened with legal action when they protested to protect their houses and asked for appropriate compensation. After more than two years of protests, the villagers decided to accept compensation to build new homes.
Kuon Sam Ath, 50, a victim of the new Phnom Penh International Airport development project, said 0.4 hectares of his farmland was affected at the time. He was concerned about the canal expansion project as no high ranking officer had visited the area and none of the villagers had learned about the development plans or compensation the state would offer them.
Sam Ath said this was the second time he was affected by a state development project, although he asserted that he was not opposed to development. That being said, he hoped that the authorities would pay attention to the wellbeing of the citizens, such as notifying them about the project, discussing compensation in accordance with market value, and the extent of the damage to the citizens.
“I feel unhappy because we live in a society with the right leadership and authorities, but I do not accept such a development. The state must first inform the citizens because we are not squatters,” he said.
Sam Ath has previously asked the authorities about the canal project, but no one could tell him how many houses which will be affected. He urged the ministry in charge of the project to ensure fair compensation to the people, not like the compensation offered to villagers affected by the new international airport project.
“We just look at each other’s faces because we don’t know when they will come and clear our houses. I suggest that any development must be done with the cooperation of the people and with transparency,” said Sam Ath.
Prasat village resident, Nheb Oeung, 60, said the canal expansion project affected a large part of the fence of his house. Oeung asked the authorities in charge of the project to share comprehensive information, and offer compensation at market price. They should not have started the project without telling people about it, he added.
Oeung expressed dissatisfaction with the behavior of the authorities to solve problems with the citizens. People will have confidence and trust in the compensation if there was more information.
“The authorities say they will not pay compensation because we built the house on state land, but I have a hard title deed,” Oeung pointed out another problem. “We do not know who is in charge and there was no meeting. Work suddenly started. People don’t know anything, just like the new airport land issue.”
Another resident, Oeung Sary, wants the authorities to show their willingness to provide appropriate compensation to the people, as they are not illegally living on state land. Sary also said more attention should be given to them by the authorities instead of burdening them with the development.
“We have never objected [developments], but if there is reasonable compensation to relocate, people will be happy with the development,” she mentioned.
According to the Prasat village chief, 68-year-old Preung Heng, about 10 houses will be affected by the project, although only “16 meters of state-owned land” was earmarked for canal expansion.
When asked about compensation, the village chief contended that he did not have clear information. “They did not inform the local authority, they just brought the excavator. I don’t know about the project and what it will be like in the future,” he said.
Similarly, Boeung Khyang commune chief Nay Chandy said there was no clear indication of which house will be affected by the project, as the ministry was measuring the extent of the impact, so he was not able to provide details to CamboJA News.
“I do not know whether it will affect [the houses] because [we] are waiting for the [ministry] to finish the measurement, only then I can answer which land belongs to the state,” Chandy said.
Deputy governor of Kandal province Dim Bora and spokesperson for the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology Chan Yutha did not pick up the phone when CamboJA News contacted them on Friday.
Meanwhile, Kandal Provincial Administration issued a letter stating that the government has set out a strategic plan to divert flood waters in Phnom Penh called “Investment plan for infrastructure and drainage system to avoid flooding in Phnom Penh”, which comes under the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology.
As for the impact on the houses and fields, the government will provide compensation when the working group completes the detailed survey on the impact and collects the data at Stung Touch in Roleang Ken commune, Roka commune and Doeum Rous commune Kandal Steung district.
Areas in Stung Krom, Tonle Bati, Kampong Talong and Srok Chek village, Boeung Khyang commune, Kandal Steung district are also included in this project.
“The principle of addressing the impact and compensation for the people is in accordance with the procedures and legal documents, with the General Department addressing the impact of development projects under the Ministry of Economy and Finance as the person in charge,” said in a statement.
Van Sophat, business and coordinating officer of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), told CamboJA News that according to legal principles and the Code of Environment and Natural Resources, environmental effects on society caused by state or private development must be evaluated. In terms of procedure, consultation with stakeholders, especially local citizens, must be conducted.
“For people with land title, the state must use the land law to resolve appropriate compensation for the affected villagers. Residents also have the right to ask for information to find a solution,” he said.
On December 25 last year, a report by Sahmakum Teang Tnaot showed 12 cases of eviction in the capital, Kandal and Takeo provinces, where people were forcibly evicted and failed to get adequate compensation.
