PHNOM PENH: The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology is developing a strategic plan to expand water-storage systems in Cambodia’s “fourth economic pole” along the western border, with the aim of strengthening water security, protecting the environment, reducing natural disasters and improving livelihoods.
The ministry held a closed-door meeting chaired by Water Resources and Meteorology Minister Thor Chetha on Tuesday (Sept 1) to discuss the development and expansion of water-storage capacity in the northwestern region.
The government’s fourth economic pole refers to the northwestern border region comprising Pursat, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Pailin provinces.
The meeting focused on assessing current conditions, identifying priorities and developing a master plan for water resource use.
Officials were instructed to conduct hydrological studies and prepare plans to restore reservoirs along natural waterways to maximise water-storage capacity for use during both the rainy and dry seasons.
Chetha also outlined plans to develop drainage systems and irrigation canals to increase agricultural productivity and support border-community economies, according to the ministry.
The strategy will also include strengthening irrigation infrastructure and installing automated monitoring stations, while developing reservoirs to supply clean water, support ecosystems and promote tourism.
The minister instructed technical teams and relevant officials to work closely with local authorities and other institutions and conduct on-site assessments.
Such studies would ensure the strategic plan was comprehensive, responsive and effective, while remaining aligned with the government’s national development policies, he said. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
