"Committee inspects hundreds of projects", 21 August 2019

Provincial Hall spokesman Kheang Phearom recently revealed that Land Management Ministry and provincial officials have reviewed the permits and safety standards of nearly 300 construction projects in Preah Sihanouk.

Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered for the creation of the Committee for the Inspection of Quality in Buildings in Preah Sihanouk after the Sihanoukville building collapse in June that killed 28 and injured 26 others.

The committee is tasked with reviewing technical aspects, standards and safety of buildings under construction. It has the authority to draft and file a report to the Land Management Ministry.

... “The committee has reviewed 297 construction sites and two buildings, one in Buon commune and one in Pi commune, are to be demolished,” Mr Phearom said. “They were owned by Chinese nationals.”

... However, Mr Phearom said 22 unlicensed construction sites in Sihanoukville were told to halt operations...

Seng Lot, spokesman for the Land Management Ministry, could not be reached for comment ...

However, Land Management Minister Chea Sophara said in a statement ... that legal action must be taken against construction projects lacking permits.

“The move aims to ensure that buildings are built in line with legal norms and construction standards,” Mr Sophara said.

A construction manager at a site in Sihanoukville ... said he was told that his project has to be demolished because it did not meet safety standards...

San Chey, executive director of the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability, ... called on the government to take stronger action against poorly executed construction projects in Preah Sihanouk...