New campus faces wreckers if found dwarfing Palace

Wednesday, 19 August 2009 15:00 Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Mom Kunthear

Ministry of Construction officials to rule if Pannasastra University building exceeds capital’s height restrictions of 30m in vicinity of Royal compound

Photo by: Sovan Philong

Pannasastra University of Cambodia’s new campus on Sothearos Boulevard faces the wrecking ball if it is found to be in breach of Phnom Penh height restrictions.

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We are checking ... and if they have done no wrong ... they will be fine.

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A newly constructed 10-storey building opposite the Hotel Cambodiana faces destruction if found in violation of height restrictions.
The Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction was investigating the building to determine if it breached planning rules limiting buildings in the vicinity of the Royal Palace to 30 metres tall, a ministry spokesperson said.
"If it has violated this rule, it has to be destroyed," Nonn Pheany said, although she conceded that the owner may simply be asked to reduce its height to less than 30 metres if it is found in breach.
"We are checking the technical specifications, and if they have done no wrong according to those conditions, they will be fine."
The structure was built to house a new Pannasastra University of Cambodia (PUC) campus, Nonn Pheany said. The Post understands the building was due to be officially opened on September 5.
The building's owner, Tong Seng, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Daun Penh district Deputy Governor Sok Penhvuth said Tuesday he had warned the owner of the building that his initial plans were in violation of the rules.
"After that, they told us that they had developed a plan to improve the building's aesthetics and sent it to the Phnom Penh construction department, so it is not our problem," he said.
Not received
Sin Bormei, deputy director of the Phnom Penh Municipal Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Department, said the plans were not received.
"All I know is that construction activity on the new university building stopped at one stage temporarily, but I did not receive any document to improve the beauty of the building," he said.
Nonn Pheany said that the ministry would question lower-level officials from Phnom Penh's municipal construction department as to why they allowed the building to be erected in violation of ministry guidelines.
An assistant to Kol Pheng, PUC's general director, said Tuesday he was teaching and was not available for comment.