Phnom Penh's Last Lakes (As It Happens - Updated)

Cambodia news in English! Here you'll find all the breaking news from Cambodia translated into English for our international readership and expat community to read and comment on. The majority of our news stories are gathered from the local Khmer newspapers, but we also bring you newsworthy media from Cambodia before you read them anywhere else. Because of the huge population of the capital city, most articles are from Phnom Penh, but Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, and Kampot often make the headlines as well. We report on all arrests and deaths of foreigners in Cambodia, and the details often come from the Cambodian police or local Khmer journalists. As an ASEAN news outlet, we also publish regional news and events from our neighboring countries. We also share local Khmer news stories that you won't find in English anywhere else. If you're looking for a certain article, you may use our site's search feature to find it quickly.
User avatar
truffledog
Expatriate
Posts: 1658
Joined: Sat Mar 07, 2020 4:54 am
Reputation: 1028
Italy

Re: Phnom Penh's Last Lakes (As It Happens - Updated)

Post by truffledog »

..and there is no way of stppping that. I still cant believe that Boeung Kak Lake is no more and its been some years since its fillup. PP has definitely changed face since my first arrival.
work is for people who cant find truffles
Tootsfriend
Expatriate
Posts: 1178
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2020 9:36 am
Reputation: 513
Australia

Re: Phnom Penh's Last Lakes (As It Happens - Updated)

Post by Tootsfriend »

The same thing is happening to the Tonlie Sap, but it is done in small bites so no-one notices it. OK the reclamation in Koh Pich and across the river in Area Kasat are not technically in the Lake area but should not be excluded from from any affect it has to the Tonlie Lake.
Anchor Moy
Expatriate
Posts: 13458
Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 11:37 pm
Reputation: 3974
Tokelau

Re: Phnom Penh's Last Lakes (As It Happens - Updated)

Post by Anchor Moy »

Resistance is futile - those who dared to protest against the on-going destruction of Phnom Penh's (lake) Boeung Ta Mok received jail sentences and stiff fines.
Might is right. :(
Rotha is one of three members of the environmental NGO Mother Nature who were arrested in 2020 after they organised a march to the house of Cambodian Prime Minister HE to express their concern about a plan to fill in Phnom Penh’s largest lake, Boeung Tamok and develop the site.

Brought to court last week, Rotha, 29, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for “incitement to commit a felony or disturb social order” and fined $1,000, while his two female colleagues 22-year-old Long Kunthea and 19-year-old Phuong Keo Raksmey were given 18 months in jail term and the same fine after being found similarly guilty of the charge. The terms take into account time already served.

“These young people were arrested for trying to protect Phnom Penh’s largest lake and preserve it for current and future generations,” said Naly Pilorge, director of LICADHO, Cambodia’s most prominent human rights NGO, which has provided legal support to the activists.

Boeung Tamok covers about 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) in the Cambodian capital and plays not only an important role in flood protection but also provides income or food for hundreds of families.

In recent years, however, the government has transferred more than 500 hectares (1,236 acres) of the lake to public institutions and private businesses.
User avatar
John Bingham
Expatriate
Posts: 13674
Joined: Sun Dec 07, 2014 11:26 pm
Reputation: 8892
Cambodia

Re: Phnom Penh's Last Lakes (As It Happens - Updated)

Post by John Bingham »

I went on a drive around Boeung Tamok a while back. It's a huge lake/ wetland to the north of the city. It makes Boeung Kak look like a puddle and dwarfs the southern 10,000 hectare Boeung Tumpun/ Boeung Choueng Ek area which is also rapidly developing.
Silence, exile, and cunning.
User avatar
orichá
Expatriate
Posts: 545
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2020 10:59 am
Reputation: 281
Location: n/a
Canada

Re: Phnom Penh's Last Lakes (As It Happens - Updated)

Post by orichá »

More well-connected winners... get land for their token existence close to the top...

https://vodenglish.news/family-of-hun-s ... ling-lake/
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
“There are terrible difficulties in the notion of probability, but we may ignore them at present.” - Bertrand Russell
User avatar
CEOCambodiaNews
Expatriate
Posts: 62322
Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2014 5:13 am
Reputation: 4033
Location: CEO Newsroom in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Contact:
Cambodia

Re: Phnom Penh's Last Lakes (As It Happens - Updated)

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

New Boeng Tamok Giveaways Show Lake Headed Toward Destruction
2 min read
Mech Dara
| Thu Feb 3, 2022 7:10 pm

Image
Plots given to individuals and institutions on Phnom Penh’s Boeng Tamok lake, according to sub-decrees and data from NGOs Licadho and STT.

The government continued its land privatization drive by allocating more than 400 hectares of Phnom Penh’s Boeng Tamok to private businesspeople and the National Election Committee, leaving little of the lake.

Six sub-decrees from November and December, released this week, reveal that around 425 hectares were given to five individuals and the NEC:

Around 155 hectares to local tycoon and Anco owner Kok An.
Around 100 hectares to Choeung Thean Seng, the brother of tycoon Choeung Sopheap.
Three hectares to the NEC.
Around 75 hectares to Say Sophea, the wife of Brigade 70 deputy commander Phoeun Phalla.
180 hectares to Oum Bopha.
Around 65 hectares to Chhuo Sok Yu.

The land grants, combined with previous allotments, reveal that little of the lake is remaining, despite government assurances that a section of the lake will be maintained. With much of the lake allocated, a map of the area also reveals some civic planning with clearly demarcated streets and roundabouts.

According to coordinates provided in the decrees, An’s 155 hectares overlaps with a previous allocation to the Health Ministry. The sub-decree for An’s plot stated that a previous land allocation was voided.

The decree did not say if the land was sold by the ministry to An, but the interior and justice ministries have previously indicated they would be selling land given to them at Boeng Tamok to fund office renovations at their existing locations in central Phnom Penh.

Government spokesperson Phay Siphan said one of the reasons for the new allocations could be that people who farmed the land in the lake area had sold their land to private buyers, who were now trying to formalize the privatization. Another reason was ministries selling their land allotments to fund their activities, he said.

He said there was no wrongdoing in giving the land to influential government officials and businesspersons, and that the allocations were being done transparently and without creating chaos.
https://vodenglish.news/new-boeng-tamok ... struction/
Join the Cambodia Expats Online Telegram Channel: https://t.me/CambodiaExpatsOnline

Cambodia Expats Online: Bringing you breaking news from Cambodia before you read it anywhere else!

Have a story or an anonymous news tip for CEO? Need advertising? CONTACT US

Cambodia Expats Online is the most popular community in the country. JOIN TODAY

Follow CEO on social media:

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram
User avatar
truffledog
Expatriate
Posts: 1658
Joined: Sat Mar 07, 2020 4:54 am
Reputation: 1028
Italy

Re: Phnom Penh's Last Lakes (As It Happens - Updated)

Post by truffledog »

Cambodia is going to need a few new cement plants to cover all the needs of this newly to develop areas. Doubt that a lot of green will be left over.
work is for people who cant find truffles
Tootsfriend
Expatriate
Posts: 1178
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2020 9:36 am
Reputation: 513
Australia

Re: Phnom Penh's Last Lakes (As It Happens - Updated)

Post by Tootsfriend »

Well in Siem Reap they don't fill in lakes ???? :facepalm:

to dig and rehabilitate the Pea Raing Lake Conservation area. to do rehabilitation work at the lake so as to have more water for fish biodiversity, maintenance of fish stock abundance and for almost 200 species of birds and fish to take refuge in the forest and for foraging.


https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501019320/ ... r-a-fight/
User avatar
SternAAlbifrons
Expatriate
Posts: 5752
Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2019 11:31 am
Reputation: 3424
Location: Gilligan's Island
Pitcairn Island

Re: Phnom Penh's Last Lakes (As It Happens - Updated)

Post by SternAAlbifrons »

truffledog wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 3:45 am ..and there is no way of stppping that. I still cant believe that Boeung Kak Lake is no more and its been some years since its fillup. PP has definitely changed face since my first arrival.

Now, no crying Boyo's.
'Hard not to, for those of us that lived that first minute or two.


:beer3:
Not only for the memories - but we should also celebrate gratitude too.
It wasn't a bad way to arrive in Cambodia. I reckon we were bloody very lucky to catch this
@4/5 bucks a night.
User avatar
Bitte_Kein_Lexus
Expatriate
Posts: 4421
Joined: Sun May 18, 2014 7:32 pm
Reputation: 1325

Re: Phnom Penh's Last Lakes (As It Happens - Updated)

Post by Bitte_Kein_Lexus »

The short-sightedness and lack of knowledge/appreciation of green spaces and parks really make the local authorities look like idiots at times. It's very difficult to turn back from this, and even city planners in western cities over a hundred years ago had the foresight to leave parks. There's a weird thinking (disconnect?) that somehow more high-rises leads to better quality of life for citizens of the city...

Can anyone think of another major city (or capital city) which has no real parks? Phnom Penh is the only one I can think of. Maybe il mot well traveled enough though...
Ex Bitteeinbit/LexusSchmexus
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Amazon [Bot], Art, paul2d, Semrush [Bot], Soriya and 1018 guests