By:
• Isa Rohany

• June 3, 2024 , 2:10 PM

SIEM REAP – The amount of aquatic plants and mosses is increasing rapidly in the Siem Reap River, making this popular tourist spot in the province a stinking, disappointing place for locals and visitors alike.

A flood of criticism falls on the authorities, who claim that this problem only arises in the dry season, when large quantities of water are used to maintain the temples, and cleaning staff are in short supply.

Ly Vannak, spokesperson for the Siem Reap Provincial Administration, said the APSARA authority has to stock the water for the temples’ sustainability.

Last year, when similar pollution occurred, the provincial authorities issued a statement to dispel all criticism. They stated that water levels were low due to a riverbank and river redevelopment project, causing algae and moss growth on the lower reaches of the river. 

“This completely shuts off the flow of water,” Vannak said. “It is a two-year project, which is scheduled to be completed in December 2024.”

Lay Poti, the deputy director of the Department of Water Management, Forestry, and Infrastructure of the APSARA Authority, said the dirty water is probably caused by uncontrolled dumping of dirty waters into the river, polluting the waterways in its lower section.

“In the upper area, such as at the bridge of Angkor, the river is not polluted although the water level is low. In the past, we have evacuated the people living along the riverbank to keep the water clean and restore the river.”

People who used to live on the banks of the Siem Reap River in Siem Reap City have had to dismantle their homes due to the authorities’ plans to improve and develop the riverbanks.

They were relocated to Run Ta Ek commune, Banteay Srei district, about 20 kilometers away from Angkor Wat.

In the past, after criticism arose regarding the river’s pollution, provincial authorities set up a working group and called on people to clean up the river. However, occasional cleaning has proven inefficient in keeping its waters clean in the long run.

The river is seen clean only during major festivals such as the Khmer New Year or the Water Festival. The APSARA authority flows fresh water from the upper area to the lower part of the city so that any entertainment activities on the river can be carried on.

However, local people have high expectations that once the restoration project is completed, the aesthetic and freshness of the river will be restored.