Significant Progress in the Banteay Meanchey Irrigation Project

• 7 July 2025
• Local News
• 1147 Views

The Irrigation Development Project for Flood Mitigation and Prevention (IDFMP) in Banteay Meanchey province is making remarkable strides, with progress reported at approximately 81.60%. His Excellency Pon Sacha, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, led a meeting today to review the project’s advancements and address existing challenges.

During the meeting, H.E. Pon Sacha noted that the project had exceeded its initial target of 76.81%. However, he acknowledged the rainy season, which has brought almost daily rainfall, as a significant factor hindering construction timelines. To tackle this issue, it was decided to implement solar energy systems, aiming to replace traditional electricity grids and generators for the operation of the water gates.

The Secretary of State urged the construction company to expedite their efforts, stressing the importance of completing key phases before potential cross-border floods could impact the project’s major construction sites.

The IDFMP, which harnesses water from streams and rivers along the Cambodia-Thailand border, has successfully established critical infrastructure. This includes five large-scale irrigation and drainage canals stretching a total of 87.6 kilometers, the construction of 216 drainage structures, and the rehabilitation of three significant reservoirs: Pongr, Wang Hang, and Kanseng, along with repairs to the O Khai Dan Reservoir.

Once completed, the project is expected to provide irrigation for approximately 28,354 hectares of farmland during the rainy season and around 13,827 hectares in the dry season. This initiative is set to benefit over 42,213 farming families across 12 communes, including those in Poipet City, Malai District, O Chrov District, and Serey Sophon City.

The ongoing efforts in Banteay Meanchey highlight the government’s commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity and flood resilience in the region, ensuring a brighter future for local farmers and communities.

• infrastructure development