Phnom Penh Governor Pa Socheatvong yesterday issued a statement demanding a complete moratorium on construction projects and banning large trucks from November 12-16 for the Water Festival.

“We are going to ban any truck transporting goods as well as buses, cement trucks and any construction site from operating,” the statement reads.

The formal letter follows a declaration posted on Socheatvong’s Facebook page on Tuesday. Both statements said the measure was meant to “ease traffic congestion” during the festival.

“It is a serious prohibition during these days to not allow any big trucks or construction,” city official Chum Bunthoeun said.

Bunthoeun said local authorities are responsible for enforcing the moratorium.

Prum Samkhan, Chamkarmon district governor, said he didn’t think the stoppage would affect businesses negatively because people will not be working anyway.

“We received the information from the Phnom Penh governor, but I have not disseminated it to every commune yet,” Samkhan said.

When asked how violators will be punished, Samkhan said “we will see”.