via Phnom Penh Post, 28 April 2021: Man vs nature in the rehabilitation of the Angkor Thom moat.
A working group from the APSARA National Authority (ANA)’s Department of Water Management was restoring water hyacinth in Angkor Thom’s moat as part of conservation work and efforts to make it more appealing to tourists who visit Angkor Archaeological Park.
Nhem Raksmey, technical officer at the department, said rehabilitation work commenced on April 24 with 40 people. It started near Angkor Thom’s Takav gate (west gate).
Raksmey said that the restoration work covered 150,000sqm, and the group had struck some obstacles along the way because of thick plant coverage.
“The restoration team has been busy pulling out the thick water hyacinths from the water and placing them on the moat’s bank. Grass and small plants have become so thick and heavy that in some places you could hardly see the water. Some plants grew down 60cm into the water,” he said.
He said this problem was formed by small plants in the water growing over a long time and lack of adequate cleaning, causing this thick mass of plants.
Source: Angkor Thom restoration work hits snag | Phnom Penh Post
