Kampot (FN), April 2 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered relevant ministries to build dams in order to prevent salty water from the Gulf of Thailand from entering Kampot river to address water crisis.

The order was made Tuesday at the inauguration of USD 26 million Japanese-grant water supply system in Kampot, approximately 150km south of Phnom Penh and around 5 km from the Gulf of Thailand.

The expected cost of USD 1 million of dam-barrier controlling flow of water will be allocated by FDI budget, according to the Premier.

The dam will be built across a river to obstruct flow of salty river water and to create a reservoir for clean water to address water crisis during dry season, which starts from November through April.

Kampot was the capital of the Circonscription Résidentielle de Kampot under French rule and Cambodia's most important seaport after the loss of the Mekong Delta and before the establishment of Sihanoukville. The province is well known for for its fish sauce, durian fruit, and high quality pepper exported worldwide.