Prime Minister General Soe Win on  inspection tour of irrigation facilities, greening tasks in Magway, Mandalay Divisions

YANGON , 29 Jan — Accompanied by Member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Ye Myint of the Ministry of Defence, the ministers, and officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, Prime Minister General Soe Win left here by Tatmadaw aircraft on 27 January morning and arrived Magway at 9.30 am.

At Magway Airport , they were welcomed by Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Central Command Maj-Gen Khin Zaw, Chairman of Magway Division PDC Col Phone Maw Shwe and departmental officials.

The Prime Minister and party, accompanied by Commander Maj-Gen Khin Zaw and officials, proceeded to the construction site of Kyeeohn-Kyeewa Multi-purpose Dam Project on Mone Creek near Wunlo Village of Pwintbyu Township.

In the briefing hall, Director-General U Kyaw San Win of Irrigation Department reported on functions of the project, progress of tasks, requirements of construction materials and Chairman of Magway Division PDC Col Phone Maw Shwe on assistance being provided for the project. Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation U Ohn Myint gave a supplementary report on budget for the project, use of heavy machinery and arrangements for generating hydel power. Lt-Gen Ye Myint gave instructions on implementation of the plan, that had been submitted to the Head of State on his tour, to extend irrigated area with the use of irrigation facilities of Mone Creek.

Prime Minister General Soe Win gave instructions that as completed plans will benefit the people, tasks are to be carried out in time meeting set standard, and loss and wastage are to be minimized.

He urged officials to organize local farmers for carrying out cultivation tasks with the use of the effective crop pattern, systematic water supply system and congenial cultivation method so as to enhance cultivation capability and not to be shortage of water in generating hydel power from the multi-purpose dam.

Next, they oversaw building of the embankment, flow of water and construction of the dam structures.

Construction-3 of Irrigation Department is building Kyeeohn-Kyeewa Multi-purpose Dam on Mone Creek. The dam, 164 feet high and 3,280 feet long, can store 463,000 acre-feet of water. On completion, the dam can irrigate 96,777 acres of farmland and 74,007 acres of summer paddy through Mezali Dam. Furthermore, the hydel power project will be able to generate 330 million kwh annually.

On arrival at Buywa Dam Project being implemented by Construction-8 of Irrigation Department in Sedoktara Township , Deputy Director-General U Khin Zaw of ID reported on facts about the project, progress of tasks and requirements. Col Phone Maw Shwe submitted reports on land reclamation to be done in the irrigated area and assistance to be provided it. The commander and the deputy minister gave supplementary reports.

After attending to the needs, the Prime Minister gave instructions on tasks of Mone Creek Dam Project, Buywa Dam Project and Kyeeohn-Kyeewa Multi-purpose Dam Project to be carried out systematically.

Next, the Prime Minister inspected the water diversion tunnel, the spillway and the site for the dam.

Buywa Dam Project site is located near Bu Village, 13 miles from Mone Creek Dam. Buywa Dam will be 243 feet high and 6,040 feet high. The dam can produce 320 million kwh yearly, and will supply water to Kyeeohn-Kyeewa Multi-purpose Dam.

At Shwepontaung Neem Plantation of Arid Zone Greening Department near Shwepontaung pagoda in Chauk Township , Minister for Forestry Brig-Gen Thein Aung and officials reported on implementation of the projects of the department, extended cultivation of forests, growing of 1,600 neem trees and others, and the plan to put 3,000 acres of land under neem trees.

The Prime Minister looked into thriving neem trees and others at Shwepontaung and its environs. He gave instructions on neem trees, physic nut plants and other suitable species of trees to be grown in accord with the guidance of the Head of State, and seasonal crops to be planted.

On arrival at Natural Pozzolan Production site (Popa) of Hydro-electric Power Department in Kyaukpadaung Township , the Prime Minister inspected production of natural pozzolan with the use of heavy machinery.

Deputy Minister for Electric Power U Myo Myint presented reports on construction of roller compacted concrete dam (RCC Dam) with mixture of cement and natural pozzolan, findings of natural pozzolan at extinct volcanoes in the country, completion of the natural pozzolan factory in Popa region, construction of RCC Dam at Yeywa Hydel Power Project, prospects for extraction of 74 million tons of natural pozzolan in Myanmar and tasks to produce pozzolan for export.

At the laboratory building of the factory, they viewed test of natural pozzolan and production process.

Natural Pozzolan Factory is located near Ngayantgon Village , two miles east of Popa, Kyaukpadaung Township . P1-9 camp site can produce 3.5 million tons of natural pozzolan and P1-13 camp 32 million tons of natural pozzolan. A total of 14,000 tons of pozzolan can be restored at the warehouse. The factory can produce 1,000 tons of finished goods daily, and the factory started its production work in April 2005.

At Lawkananda River Water Pumping Project in NyaungU Township , they inspected functions of the pump station. Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Thein Swe and Director-General U Win Shwe of Water Resources Utilization Department reported on supply of water to farmlands from the station, and maintenance tasks of water way.

The Prime Minister and party viewed the main pumping station, the stable lake and supply of water through canals.

The Prime Minister and party arrived at the site for Myakan Lake Greening Project in NyaungU Township being implemented by Irrigation Department Construction-7. They inspected laying concrete at the bed of the lake and construction of diaphragm. Director of Construction-7 U Myo Tun reported on history of the lake, observation and design of the lake and others. Deputy Minister U Ohn Myint gave a supplementary report.

Minister for Forestry Brig-Gen Thein Aung also reported on the 2,760-acre catchment area of Myakan Lake , conservation of natural forests, 1,300-acre plantation and cultivation of 988,000 plants in catchment area of the Lake .

The Prime Minister gave instructions on tasks for greening of Tuyintaung and Myakan Lake and its environs. The Prime Minister and party went to Nanmyint Tower in Bagan archeological region. They viewed the scenery of Bagan from the open viewing level.

On 28 January, the Prime Minister and party attended the opening ceremony of Vest Factory (Taungtha) of Myanma Textile Industries in Taungtha Township . They proceeded to Kyawzi water pumping project site and inspected pumping of water.

At the briefing hall, Director-General of Water Resources Utilization Department U Win Shwe reported on location of the project, arrangements for irrigation to 8,000 acres of lands, use of electricity, installation of pumps for three pumping stations, construction of canals and monsoon rice cultivation.

Deputy Minister U Ohn Myint reported on requirements for construction of the main canal and other canals.

Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Thein Swe reported on works done. The Prime Minister then gave instructions and inspected water pumping and water supply to the main canal.

The Prime Minister and party arrived in Bagan-NyaungU by helicopter. They went to NyaungU District physic nut farm and inspected seeds of physic nut and saplings.

Chairman of NyaungU District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Teza reported on plantation of physic nut and targets to cultivate physic nut in 2006-2007, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009.

Next, the Prime Minister and party planted the saplings.

They arrived back here in the evening.