A village chief plans to submit a petition on behalf of more than 300 families living in three villages in Kampong Cham province’s Tbong Khmum district who are concerned about their homes after nine dredging boats continued to pump sand along a river bank yesterday.

Korn Mab, 40, of Rokarthom village in Chirou I commune, said a Vietnamese company had resumed sand pumping after suspending its activities in September following a complaint filed to the provincial hall by 200 families. He claimed that four villagers’ houses had collapsed last month as a result of dredging activities.

Village chief Heng Sun Lai said about 60 families had been forced to relocate since July, and that the firm’s activities would ultimately affect residents from Chirong Krom, Prek Kou and Rokarthom villages. He added that he wanted officials to assess the cause of the bank’s collapse.

“If it is found that the river bank’s collapse was caused by the Vietnamese company’s sand pumping, the villagers will file a complaint to demand compensation,” Heng Sun Lai said.

Um Vibol, director of the provincial department of Water Resources and Meteorology, said  he would examine the case.

“The provincial authorities issued a certification confirming that the company could not pump sand,” he said.