Residents of Sra Chak commune, Daun Penh district, have requested that the district authorities and the Phnom Penh administration stop cremations at Srah Chak Wat, as they find it difficult to tolerate the smell of smoke, which they say is harmful to health.

Citizens raised this issue at the 4th mandate Phnom Penh Council Information and Consultation Forum in Daun Penh district on Wednesday morning, under the chairmanship of Choob Khon, a member of the Phnom Penh Council, and Sok Penhvuth, Deputy Governor of Phnom Penh.

At the forum, Ung Dara, a resident, stated that whenever a body is cremated, residents living near the Wat find it difficult to bear the smell of smoke, which affects their livelihoods.

In response to this issue, Penhvuth stated that the Phnom Penh administration has already issued a notice prohibiting cremations at pagodas in five districts in central Phnom Penh, except for high-ranking dignitaries.

At the same time, the deputy governor instructed the head of the Phnom Penh Department of Cults and Religion to collaborate with the abbots of pagodas to monitor and prevent the cremation of bodies, especially bodies with infectious diseases, which will further affect the health of citizens.

He added that cremations are allowed at pagodas on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.