Takeo Province Approves Dredging of Takeo Lake to Combat Drought and Ensure Water Supply

In Takeo Province, southern Cambodia, provincial authorities have decided to allow private companies to dredge and deepen parts of Takeo Lake, which has become shallow due to drought. This project aims to increase the capacity for supplying daily living water and agricultural irrigation, and to prepare for droughts in the upcoming dry season. Mr. Sut Khon, Deputy Governor of Takeo Province, explained the decision at a consultation meeting regarding sand extraction business on Takeo Lake, held on September 7 at the provincial Department of Planning and Investment meeting room. He stated that the permission for partial dredging by private companies, in response to public concerns over parts of the lake becoming as shallow as 1.5 meters, has been carried out with strict technical standards and meticulous procedures. According to the deputy governor, companies undertaking this project must legally apply for licenses and diligently pay royalties to the state treasury before commencing their activities. On September 8, a technical working group led by experts from the provincial Department of Mines and Energy inspected the actual site at Takeo Lake. They guided representatives of the sand extraction companies to ensure that technical procedures are correctly implemented as stipulated in the contract. Furthermore, the working group urged that the restoration proceed in stages to ensure the lake maintains a wide flow and its natural landscape is restored.