Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Chea Sophara said on Sunday that the government had reached an agreement with 173 families impacted by the construction of the new Phnom Penh International Airport.
Speaking during a visit to the 2,600ha site, he said residents and private companies owned 1,673ha.
“Our team has helped to resolve the dispute with the residents at the project site by providing compensation in line with the size of their land.
“Our team helped 36 families affected by road construction. Eight of those families agreed to accept 5mX20m plots. The 28 other families accepted money,” Sophara said.
Kandal Stung district governor Ouch Saovoeun told The Post on Monday that the land affected by the airport construction in Kandal Stung district totals 2,000 plots or 2,002ha.
“We will continue to solve problems for citizens according to the state policy and actual plot sizes,” he said.
During an inspection of the construction site, Cambodia Airport Investment Co Ltd (CAIC) representative Oknha Pung Kheav Se said there are currently 1,102 workers at the project, including 95 foreign engineers and 110 Cambodian ones.
“The demand for labour will increase to 20,000 workers per day. At the same time, I hope that the construction of this new airport will help to train a lot of Cambodian engineers and technicians,” he said.
Kheav Se said the company has spent $120 million on design consulting (drawing plans), building the foundation, filling in the land, and soil quality adjustments. The company will spend another $208 million by the end of the year.
Sophara said on Sunday that the land was purchased on the principle of no more than $8 per square metre.
The designated 4F airport will be able to accommodate the largest planes and up to 13 million passengers per year. Phase one will be completed in 2023.
