Battambang Authorities Inspect Water Reservoirs Amid Drought to Expedite Farmer Aid

Battambang province authorities, in collaboration with relevant ministries, are intensifying efforts to rescue rice crops affected by severe drought. Governor Sok Lu recently led a delegation to inspect water levels at the Kampong Chhnang reservoir and the Sek Sak multipurpose dam, aiming to expedite the distribution of remaining water resources. The province has been grappling with a severe dry spell, impacting over 130,000 hectares of rice cultivation, with approximately 70,000 hectares already having received aid. The current inspection focuses on the potential to leverage the water reserves in the Kampong Chhnang reservoir and the Sek Sak dam to support the remaining affected areas. During the inspection, Governor Sok Lu visited the Kampong Chhnang reservoir located in Tang Eng village, Ta Krarm commune, Sok Banon district, and the Sek Sak multipurpose dam in Tuk Sap village, Proch Meass commune, Ratanak Mondul district. The purpose was to identify effective methods and techniques for channeling water to alleviate the drought conditions faced by farmers in Thmor Kol, Banon, and Bawel districts. Initial assessments indicate that the Kampong Chhnang reservoir currently holds approximately 4 million cubic meters of water. This is a stark contrast to its maximum capacity of 140 million cubic meters. Despite the diminished supply, the governor emphasized the importance of utilizing even this limited amount by directing technical officials to proceed with water release according to established protocols to maximize crop rescue efforts. Governor Lu further instructed the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology to ensure fair and transparent allocation of the remaining water to the farming communities. These actions are in line with the directives from Prime Minister Hun Manet and under the supervision of Deputy Prime Minister Kun Kim, First Vice Chairman of the National Committee for Disaster Management, with support from the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Farmer representatives from the Kampong Chhnang reservoir user community expressed their deep appreciation for the provincial leadership's prompt response and direct engagement in addressing their critical situation. The timely intervention is seen as a crucial step in mitigating the impact of the drought on their livelihoods. Source: Kampuchea Thmey Local