Phnom Penh municipal governor Khuong Sreng said on Tuesday that residents affected by a Chroy Changvar satellite city development project by OCIC will have a solution soon.
Sreng made the comments while granting land titles to 51 families who were affected by the project, noting that OCIC will solve the issue with the remaining seven per cent of affected residents soon.
“The distribution of these titles to the residents affected by the Chroy Changvar satellite city development project is a reflection of greater attention paid by the head of the government.
“It ensures the citizens’ legal occupation rights to land and aims at raising living standards, promoting well-being and reducing poverty as well as strengthening social justice and stability,” he said.
OCIC general manager Pung Kheav Se said during the title distribution event that OCIC has resolved cases for more than 92 per cent of the affected people.
He noted the remaining seven per cent, equivalent to more than 80 families, would be provided solutions in the near future.
“The company has been developing the Chroy Changvar satellite city into a modern one. The city includes commercial hubs, administrative buildings, gardens, communication lanes, amusement parks and luxurious residential buildings, as well as a supermarket for residents,” he said.
Chea Sophat, an affected resident, said on Tuesday that in 2013 the company dredged sand to fill 378ha, affecting the livelihoods of about 300 families.
He noted that the remaining families have not agreed to the compensation offered by the municipal hall and OCIC because they would have to forfeit 90 per cent of their land.
Sophat said the families want a 50/50 split and if the company wants to buy the land, they must pay a fair market price.
“I ask where there is the law saying that the owner obtains 10 per cent of the land, the municipal hall gets 50 per cent and the company 40 per cent. I don’t know where they came up with that. That’s why we keep coming forward to protest,” he said.
Sophat said he bought and occupied his land in 1992, with a receipt acknowledged by Russey Keo district hall.
Others also have hard land titles.
Municipal hall spokesman Met Meas Pheakdey said many have already accepted the arrangement put forth by the municipal hall and the company and the others must do the same.
“Many citizens have agreed to accept. So, they got that number [10 per cent of land]. Others cannot get more than this. So, we will strive to negotiate and solve it,” he said.
