Representatives of more than 200 families protested outside Kampot provincial hall on Wednesday against the closure of road by a hydrodam developer in April.

Provincial governor Khoy Khun Huor said yesterday that local authorities could not reopen the road leading up to Kamchay mountain – near the site of the Kamchay hydropower dam –  because they wanted to protect villagers from danger.

“We need to find a new way for them,” he said, adding that developer Sinohydro needed the road to assist with the dam’s construction. “We are not caring for only 200 families, the hydropower is for millions of peoples’ sake.”

Villagers said yesterday that the road had been easy to use and gave access to bamboo and vines that they need for their basket-making businesses.

Try Chhuon, provincial coordinator for rights group Adhoc, said yesterday that the government was not likely to care.

“The dam has no transparent environmental impact assessment. The villagers should be [better] informed about the development,” she said.

Kim Sovann, representative of Sinohydro, could not be reached for comment yesterday.