Phnom Penh municipal governor Khuong Sreng on Friday ordered the capital’s 14 district governors to oversee the construction of buildings inside pagodas.

Speaking at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport’s meeting to review its work carried out in 2018-2019 and plans for the year, he said: “No one dares to closely [inspect the buildings inside] pagodas after they are completed.

“But it’s because no one does it that the [dining hall at the Prasat Kokchak] pagoda in Siem Reap province collapsed [on December 2, claiming the lives of three people and injuring 13 others].

“District governors have to go by the pagodas and call construction experts to regularly inspect their buildings. This is our duty,” said Sreng.

He noted that pagoda monks typically do not hire construction experts, opting instead to buy construction materials on their own with donations.

“Phnom Penh has not had a building collapse yet. But let’s not allow it to have one. There are many living quarters constructed here without requesting the proper permits. The steel frame must be well prepared before proceeding with construction.

“We are not suggesting a restriction on the constructions – we will continue to allow them – but the proper permits must be issued by the relevant departments.

“All district authorities, please go and tell pagoda chiefs to request the permits – I would get a construction expert to inspect and assess how to build.

“After the construction projects are shaped, I would have the blueprint designers inspect and do whatever they can to fortify the steel frames. In doing so, we guarantee safety. Don’t slack off when it comes to that,” he said.

Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction spokesman Seng Lot said on Monday that the ministry is working to implement the Law on Construction which was approved on November 2, last year.

All construction project owners must have the proper permits to implement the law together and strengthen the quality of constructions, he said.

“We don’t make a profit from public services, from various constructions of the state, constructions of other associations. We provide paperwork free of charge.

“They [project owners] don’t pay into the national budget,” said Lot.

He said permits are required for all construction projects, except structures for the national defence sector which are to be kept in classified locations.

Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia president Sok Kin lauded the move, saying the construction sector has to be properly inspected.

The Phnom Penh municipal administration’s tougher stance “is the best possible move for companies and relevant parties to implement the Law on Construction.

“Previously, notices were just issued, but this time, the administration will take tougher measures,” he said.