ABOUT 20 villagers set to be displaced by the controversial Boeung Kak lake development have issued fresh calls for compensation after the authorities and the project’s developer told them to direct their demands to the firm refurbishing nearby rail lines.

The families live in Daun Penh district’s Srah Chak commune, close to both the 133-hectare lakeside development and the railways currently being renovated by Australian firm Toll Holdings.

Forty-two-year-old Phorn Kimsan, from Village 1 close to the lakeside, said yesterday that 26 families in the village had been granted US$8,000 and 2 million riels in compensation in line with a longstanding city policy.

After repeatedly requesting payment from the city authorities, he said, the villagers were now being directed to the rail company.

“Now, both the authorities and the company say they are no longer responsible for the compensation. They pushed us to demand the compensation from the railway development company,” he said.

Srah Chok commune chief Chhay Thirith said the railway development firm had confirmed it would compensate any families ordered to relocate from within 10 metres of the  railway lines. Compensation for families affected by the lakeside development was the responsibility of the developer, Shukaku Inc, he said, but did not know how much the families were entitled to.

Rights groups estimate that more than 4,000 families are set to make way for the controversial housing and commercial development.