Mandalay to spend over K35m for drinking water in 72 villages
Source: The Myanmar Times
Date: 28 February, 2018
Over K35 million (US$26,157) will be spent to ensure potable water supply for 72 villages in 13 townships in Mandalay Region during the coming summer months, the chief of the regional Rural Development Department said.
He said about K35.6 million will be spent on supplying water for 11,263 houses and 57,878 people in these villages.
"We have collected data on villages that face water shortages this summer," U Min Han, the department's director, said on Monday.
"We will make a request for the necessary funding to government authorities. For transporting water, we will use fuel allocated for each township," he added.
Mandalay townships that are likely to be affected by water shortages this summer are Thabeikkyin, Kyaukse, Tada-U, Myitthar, Meiktila, Mahlaing, Wundwin, Tharzi, Myingyan, Nwartogyi, Pyawbwe, Nyaung-U and Kyaukpadaung.
The department plans to start supplying water in these areas in March, said U Min Han. He added that the costs are being calculated based on water tank truck rental and fuel usage.
Mandalay is in the dry zone of central Myanmar and faces water crises every April, May and June.
According to statistics released by the department, Tada-U township has the highest number of villages vulnerable to water shortages.
"It is hard to get access to underground water, so even though we drill to 500ft deep, the water doesn't taste good for drinking," said regional parliament member U Wanna Aung. The water is good for household use only.
Helping rural areas get access to water is one of the first priorities of the regional government's development projects," he added. "River pumping projects are also being carried out with the help of the Japan International Cooperation Agency."
Water tank trucks owned by the Fire Department and City Development Committee will be used in transporting water from artesian wells and storage ponds within 10 miles or as far away as 50 miles from the villages. With the help of social welfare organisations, drinking water would be transported to the villages.
In 2017, the Rural Development Department provided drinking water for 98 villages in 15 townships that faced water shortages during the summer months.
