REALTY & CONSTRUCTION: PHNOM-PENH- Ministry to develop seven more sustainable cities

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The Environment Ministry will develop sustainable cities in six other provinces after implementing the plan in Phnom Penh.

It has targeted Siem Reap, Preah Sihanouk, Kampong Cham, Tboung Khmum, Poipet and Svay Rieng for the development.

Sao Sopheap, a ministry secretary of state, yesterday said that the rapid growth of cities in the target provinces has posed many challenges, including solid and liquid waste management.

He was speaking at an annual workshop to review the progress of the National Council for Sustainable Development’s 2019 targets and its plans for 2020.

Mr Sopheap noted that population growth in cities and rapid development of infrastructure have also posed challenges to air quality, traffic, housing, energy, water, food supply, flood management, and cultural and natural heritage conservation.

He said that addressing these challenges requires the re-organisation of policies and strategic plans as well as collaboration with the ministries, institutions and stakeholders.

Mr Sopheap noted the ministry had supported City Hall in Phnom Penh for the launch of the Phnom Penh Sustainable City Plan 2018-2030 aimed at making the capital attractive, green and comfortable to live in.

“We are targeting seven more cities to organise sustainable urban development and are proposing mechanisms to mobilise resources to implement the plan,” he said.

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Tang Meng Heang,director of the Department of Green Economy of the Environment Ministry’s NCSD, said at the workshop that a sustainable city is one where people can live comfortably through reduced traffic congestion and efficient drainage systems.

He also noted infrastructure must be in place, along with green space, and the environment must be clean and waste disposed of properly.

“This means that when organising sustainable cities, we have to consider both sustainable urban development as well as preservation of our ancestral heritage,” he said. “The implementation of the plan to develop the seven cities into sustainable cities is scheduled to be launched late this year or early 2020.”

Seng Seang Kong, 20, a Royal University of Agriculture student who attended the workshop, said she supports the organisation of cities to become sustainable cities so that they would have a clean and hygienic environment, provide comfortable living for people and also attract tourists.

However, she urged relevant ministries and institutions to further strengthen waste management and also educate city dwellers on the importance of having a healthy environment and proper waste management.

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“Some people living in Phnom Penh and other big cities are aware of these but others, especially elderly people in some communities on the outskirts, are not,” Ms Seang Kong said. “So, I think the ministry and relevant institutions should increase dissemination of information to these communities so that they are aware of the environment and how to protect it.”

Tin Ponlok, the ministry’s National Council for Sustainable Development secretary-general, yesterday said that in addition to sustainable urban development, the secretariat has also been conducting research and collaborating with stakeholders in implementing some action plans to meet national sustainable development goals.

He said these include responding to climate change, promoting the use of sustainable energy, biodiversity, biosafety conservation and development of green technology. / Pech Sotheary / Khmer Times Share: