Kong Kimny (គង់ គឹមនី), then deputy governor of Kratie province, said the province had seven construction gravel and sand businesses holding seven licences. They were extracting gravel and sand from riverbeds to supply construction sites within the province.
Three operating sites were in Kratie city, one in Chet Borei district, one in Chhloung district and two in Prek Prasab district. The deputy governor said all the sites were along the Mekong River.
Officials from the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology urged all parties involved in gravel and sand extraction to implement management mechanisms and technical standards effectively and transparently.
At an event on legal requirements, management mechanisms and technical standards for responsible sand extraction, held at Kratie Provincial Hall on the morning of May 21, 2026, ministry Undersecretary of State Sin Viseth (ស៊ិន វិសិដ្ឋ) called on relevant institutions to strengthen oversight and rigorously apply technical standards to ensure transparent and effective licensing.
The official, who was also deputy head of the Secretariat of the Committee for Sand Resource Management, said the committee inspected and monitored sand extraction in relation to water resources and dredging techniques to ensure compliance with hydrological and hydraulic standards.
He added that poorly managed sand extraction could cause riverbank erosion, biodiversity loss and harm to the environment and residents’ livelihoods. Effective management and strict technical standards were therefore necessary.
By: Pai Sokhim
