NAY PYI TAW February 28
Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by his entourage, Rakhine State Chief Minister U Htein Lin, Western Command Commander Maj-Gen Htin Latt Oo and officials, inspected the water supply system of Sittwe this morning.
At the waterworks of Kandawgyi Lake and a group of rain water storage lakes, the Senior General and party heard a report on average daily and yearly water demand of Sittwe, water supply from Kandawgyi Lake and a group of rain water storage lakes and Hsantyoekya group of rain water storage lakes, annual rainfall and storage capacity, decrease in rain fall beginning from 2017, rise in demand due to population increase of Sittwe, and requirements for extension of storage lakes, and provision storage lakes with water from Khami Kyein Creek Dam.
Regarding the reports, the Senior General said efforts should be made to meet the daily water demand of the city.
Means to turn salt water into fresh water must be taken into account, apart from storing fresh water. A feasibility study on environmental friendly underground water tapping at the north of the city should be done and report must be presented soonest. Available underground water should be pumped with electricity or solar power instead of using fuel oil run pumps.
Cleanness and durability of Kandawgyi should be upgraded.
Storage lakes cannot store water up to the fixed level because of a drop in the rainfall.
Excessive exploitation of forest resources led to drop in rainfall and occurrence of natural disasters. Hence trees including mangrove plants must be grown. Rain will increase only if an area has a large area forests.
Hence, long term beneficial programs should be considered.
The Senior General and party viewed the storage lakes and looked into the requirements of officials in their work of maintaining the waterworks and meeting the local water demand.
