Specialists in Oddar Meanchey province removed masses of floating debris and cleared forest from an ancient pond dating from the Angkorian era in Konkriel commune’s Khtom village of Samrong town with the support of funds from German development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Hang Yoeurn, head of the provincial Department of Culture and Fine Arts, recently held a ceremony asking the spirits and guardians of Lpeuk Temple and the pond to bless the removal of the debris and the clearing of the forest to promote the beauty and work of Khmer heroes to younger generations who can now learn about them.

According to the department, the pond measures 450m by 280m, inclusive of the dam around it. As planned, specialists will remove the debris and clear the forest from the pond over the next month.

“Through the research of the department’s archaeological officials, we know this pond was built in the Angkor period, perhaps the first half of the 11th century ... For this project, we’ll just remove the debris and grass and plants growing in the pond and clear the forest around it,” it said.

Yoeurn told The Post on July 7 that the clearance and removal of the debris was supported by the provincial administration with assistance from GIZ.

“This project is under the local economic development programme in the fourth phase in Oddar Meanchey province on the project of improving the livelihoods of people returning from Thailand affected by the Covid-19 crisis. The project is carried out by the culture department,” he said.

Konkriel commune chief Lun Noch told The Post on July 7 that the area of the pond with the ancient temple had become a popular tourist site and that this work can promote the value and beauty of the pond while retaining its features.

“This is our heritage in the province and this ancient pond has stood here waiting to be acknowledged for so long,” he said.