PHNOM PENH: Say Samal, Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, has shared how the ministry is stepping up efforts to relocate residents from unsafe urban settlements as the government moves to better coordinate drainage restoration, road construction and housing redevelopment projects nationwide.
He explained that multiple ministries — including those responsible for land management, public works and water resources — are now working from a shared planning framework to address flooding, urban congestion and informal settlements.
“We are now sitting at the same table with one common map,” he said.
He explained that the government’s approach is aimed at reducing traffic congestion, preventing flooding and addressing unplanned construction, while also trying to avoid forced evictions by helping affected residents secure alternative housing.
“When restoring canals or carrying out infrastructure projects, we must think about how to support the people living there, not chase them away,” he said.
Samal spoke at length about relocation efforts at several sites, including around Calmette Hospital and the Norodom Boulevard-area Norodom Victory Buildings, commonly known as the “Nokor Meanchey” buildings, which authorities have long considered unsafe and unsanitary.
He described conditions inside some aging apartment blocks as dangerous and unsuitable for families, citing poor sanitation, drug-related issues and risks of structural collapse.
“We cannot allow people to continue living in conditions like that,” he said.
“If a building collapses and people die, that responsibility also falls on us,” he added.
The minister said most families at one disputed site had already accepted compensation or relocation arrangements, leaving only a small number of holdouts.
According to Samal, authorities offered compensation based on market prices, while also helping some residents purchase new homes elsewhere.
He acknowledged that some residents had publicly criticised him on social media for refusing demands for larger payouts, but insisted the government could not provide compensation beyond its means.
“I told them directly: what we are offering is already based on market value. If they demand more, where can I find the money?” he said.
Despite disputes, Samal argued that many relocated families were now living in significantly improved conditions.
He recounted visiting families who had moved into new homes and said many residents had expressed happiness at finally having clean and stable housing.
“They never imagined they would one day have a comfortable home,” he said.
The minister said similar relocation and urban upgrading projects had already been implemented in Battambang and would soon expand to Sihanoukville, while authorities have also begun identifying affected communities in Kandal and Phnom Penh.
He also acknowledged the economic realities that drive many migrant workers from the provinces to settle informally in the capital.
“People come from the provinces to work in Phnom Penh. They need somewhere to live so they occupy land wherever they can,” he said.
“Are they wrong? Partly yes, partly no. They are just trying to survive and support their families,” he added.
Rather than blaming poor communities, Samal said authorities should focus on dialogue and compromise.
“We must learn to negotiate and build a culture of dialogue,” he said, adding that relocation efforts should balance public safety, urban order and the needs of vulnerable residents. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
