Waste released into the sewerage system near fences of the National Olympic Stadium by residents and construction sites in the area has caused a bad stench, prompting the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport to seek an intervention from Phnom Penh municipal governor Khuong Sreng.
In his letter to the governor on March 30, ministry secretary of state Sar Sokha said local authorities and relevant institutions have yet to address the issue despite the municipal hall having issued two separate intervention letters.
The letter said that in compliance with government policy in improving the people’s wellbeing and preparing to host national and international sports events, the ministry had the duty to provide the proper sanitation for the stadium.
“At present, next to the fences of the National Olympic Stadium, apartment owners are releasing waste into the sewerage system. The waste brings a bad smell into the stadium, especially for the public who exercise and play sports on a daily basis,” Sokha said.
Reached for comment on March 31, the governor said while he had not received the letter from Sokha, he would look into the issue.
Education ministry spokesman Ros Soveacha called on the municipal authority to address the problems in a timely manner in order to promote the capital’s environment and improve people’s physical and mental health and livelihoods.
