Myanmar Conservationists Slam Moves for Endangered Irrawaddy Dolphin’s Captive Breeding

17 July 2020 - The Irrawaddy - Myanmar's approval of the gravely endangered Irrawaddy dolphin for captive commercial breeding has prompted condemnation from wildlife conservationists. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Conservation's Forestry Department ordered last month that 90...

Bagan-NyaungU Bu Phaya river port revived with motorboat riders

16 July 2020 - Source: Global New Light of Myanmar - With the pilgrims visiting Bu Phaya in the Bagan-NyaungU archaeological heritage site, the Bu pagoda port fallen silent for over three months is now revived with the motorboat riders, said U Maung Soe, a motorboat owner in Bu Phaya river port...

Weak monsoon wind makes less rain in Myanmar

16 July 2020 - Eleven Myanmar - Weak monsoon winds will make less rain in Myanmar for the next three days and the danger of river flooding is not imminent, said Kyaw Moe Oo, Director General of Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH). More rain is still expected to pour in southern and no...

Ensuring flood season does not worsen spread of COVID-19 is a must

15 July 2020 - Source: Global New Light of Myanmar - With flood season on the horizon, local authorities are preparing to face the dual challenge of COVID-19 and floods in their respective regions. The swollen Ayeyawady River inaundated low-lying areas in Myitkyina and Waigmaw in Kachin State o...

Ayeyarwady water level rising in Shwegu and Katha

15 July 2020 - Source: Mizzima - The water level in Ayeyarwady River is rising in Shwegu Township, Kachin State and Katha Town in Sagaing Region. Director General of Meteorology and Hydrology Department, Kyaw Moe Oo, said and was reaching danger levels. 13 village-tracts and 6,143 acres of farm...

Kachin State flood victims get relief assistance

13 July 2020 - Source: Global New Light of Myanmar - Officials from Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement along with governmental officials from Kachin State provided relief aids to flood victims in Kachin State yesterday. The flood water from the Ayeyawady inundated low-lying are...

Floods hit low-lying wards in Myitkyina

13 July 2020 - Source: Eleven Myanmar - Low-lying wards in Myitkyina Township, Kachin State, are flooded as the water level of Ayeyawady River has reached 1,046 cm after the incessant heavy downpours in northern Myanmar. On 12 July, the natural disaster preparedness committee evacuated 107 popu...

River erosion-related displacement increases this year in Magway Region

10 July 2020 - Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar The number of people displaced by river bank erosion has increased this year in Magway Region when compared to that of last year, according to the Disaster Management Department. Although only about 200 households were displaced by the river ban...

5 Ayeyawady dolphins found dead in 6 months along Ayeyawady River

01 July 2020 - Source: Global New Light of Myanmar - Five Ayeyawady dolphins including a one-month-old baby dolphin were found dead within six months in the Ayeyawady River along with Mandalay– Bhamo, according to the Endangered Species Conservation Division under the Fisheries Department. "Fiv...

Over 98,000 acres of monsoon paddy to grow in Kyaukse, Sagaing

28 JUN 2020 - Source: Global New Light of Myanmar - With the cultivation mainly done through irrigation system in Kyaukse township in Mandalay region, a total of 56,207 acres of monsoon paddy will be grown in Kyaukse township whereas 41,972 acres of the same will be grown in Singaing township.&...

Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Hydropower Sector in Myanmar

This chapter outlines the status of hydropower development in Myanmar. In absence of a hydropower policy or plan in Myanmar, the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) will assess the existing hydropower plants and planned projects in the major river basins and sub-basins. The analysis firstly cov...

Setting water tariffs right: Considerations and approaches

Mandalay's water is not only the cheapest in Myanmar, but it also has some of the lowest tariffs in South East Asia. There have been attempts to rectify this.  In brief, this paper describes: Governments must ensure access to water for all citizens as it is a right with far reaching social, pol...

Police arrest people for electrofishing in Ayeyarwady

14 MAY 2020 - Source: Myanmar Times - The Myanmar Maritime Police Force in Mandalay Region has impounded 18 fishing boats for illegal electrofishing in the Ayeyarwady River so far this year, a senior officer said. Police Major Myo Ko Ko said that as of May 12, the maritime police had seized 18 ...

Govt to build new ports with assistance from Japan

​20 April 2020 - Source: Myanmar Times The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) is planning to build new port terminals with financial assistance from the Japanese Government, minister U Thant Sin Maung said. Myanmar has nine ports located in Yangon Region, Ayeyarwaddy Region, Mon St...

‘Not Enough Water to Wash Our Hands,’ Say Kachin IDPs Bracing For COVID-19

​2 APRIL 2020 - Source: Burma News International - While thorough handwashing has been proven as an effective strategy to fight the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Kachin State's camps say that the current water shortage prevents them from being able...