Nyaunglebin, 4 February

Three drainage channels would reportedly be dug in Bago Region in an attempt to distribute cultivation water to local farmers, protect the region from severe flooding, and reduce the effects of inundations, according to an official from the Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation.

The IWUMD embarked on digging up the second phase of Chein Creek in Nyaunglebin Township, said U Than Zin Aung, Staff Officer. The works on implementation of the second phase of Chein Creek have commenced since 15 January with the use of 20 heavy machineries from three private tender winning companies. The second phase of 11.50 mile long Chein Creek is being dug in three stages by spending almost Ks. 1,198 million of the Union Budget and the project is scheduled to be completed in April this year.

The drainage channel is expected to be beneficial to about 12,000 acres of farmlands belonging to local farmers from six village-tracts, thereby contributing to minimizing flood damages and irrigating water to farmlands. A total of 25 drainage channels – four in Sagaing Region, eight in Bago Region, two in Magway Region, six in Yangon Region and five in Ayeyawady Region—would be dug with financial allocation from the Union Budget in the current fiscal year, according to a source from Bago Region’s IWUMD.

Out of eight projects to be implemented in Bago Region, three drainage channels would be dug in Nyaunglebin and Thanatpin Townships.—Thet Lwin (Nyaunglebin)

Translated by Kyaw Htike Soe