Government to dredge Prek Thnaot river to mitigate Phnom Penh flood risk

• 13 August 2020
• Local News
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The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology has been working with a Chinese firm to dredge the Prek Thnaot river next year, aiming to mitigate flood risk in Phnom Penh City.

Secretary of State and spokesman for the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology H.E Chan Yutha said at a press conference on August 10 that the flood issue in Phnom Penh is very severe, due to heavy rainfall, excess water from the Mekong River and the Prek Thnaot river effect.

“The ministry has been negotiating with the Chinese company and the Ministry of Economy and Finance regarding the expense of dredging. Hopefully, it can be finalized and implemented next year,” said H.E. Chan.

He also added that the dredging might take around 30 months to complete. Upon completion, Prek Thnaot the river will not only help prevent floods but also can supply water to over 10,000 hectares of cropland.

“Today, the Prek Thnaot river is shrinking, making it hard for the water to release and result in floods with a speed of approximately 1,200 cubic meters per second. However, after dredging, the problem will be solved,” said H.E. Chan.

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