Nay Pyi Taw December 3
Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by Commission Secretary Joint Executive Chief General Ye Win Oo, members of the inspection team, the Mandalay Region Chief Minister and officials, inspected under-takings to ensure water sufficiency for PyinOoLwin region and beautification process this morning.
On arrival at the briefing hall of Hsinlan Dam, the Senior General heard reports on efforts to ensure water sufficienct of PyinOoLwin Township and further works, upgrading the spillway with the two-foot more height of the facility at Hsinlan Dam for providing further sufficiency of drinking water in PyinOoLwin Township in accord with the guidance of the Head of State in April 2025, upgrading of the Sitha Dam with a three-foot-height of facility at the spillway, construction of Hsinlan-2 Dam for supplying sufficiency water to PyinOoLwin and agricultural water, construction of Pwekauk diversion weir and Pintee Dam, and potential prospects.
In his response, the Senior General gave guidance, saying that the construction projects for the Hsinlan-2 Dam and the Pintee Dam should be implemented to ensure an adequate supply of drinking water and irrigation water for PyinOoLwin. The Hsinlan-2 Dam project is located on the Sinphyu Creek near Sinphyuinn Village. Once completed, the dam is expected to have an estimated storage capacity of 1,200 acre-feet of water. Water from Sinphyu Creek will be supplied through the Yinthama diversion weir downstream of the dam and delivered to Yadanabon New Town using a gravity-flow system. In addition to enabling the expansion of drinking water distribution to Ward No 9, 16, 17 and 18, the project will also provide irrigation support for farmland along the stream, benefiting agricultural areas that rely on supplemental water. The Pintee Dam construction project is located on the Thabyaik Creek near Pintee Village and, once completed, will have an estimated storage capacity of 4,000 acre-feet of water. The stored water will be supplied year-round to 1,015 acres of farmland along Thabyaik Creek through seven diversion weirs using a gravity-flow system, which is expected to significantly support local food security. In addition, the project will enable the expansion of drinking water distribution to urban Wards 10, 11 and 12 through a pumping system. Once both dam projects are completed, PyinOoLwin will be able to secure a stable drinking water supply that can also meet future population needs. Furthermore, the increased water availability will support the city’s signature development programmes the Flower City and Coffee City initiatives while also contributing to a greener environment. Tourism in the region is expected to grow substantially, which in turn will help improve socio-economic conditions for local residents. There-fore, it is necessary to continue systematically carrying out the required preparatory and assessment work for the planned expansion and construction of the dams.
The Senior General and party inspected storage of water at the Hsinlan Dam and the upgrade of spillway. The Senior General heard reports of officials and gave guidance that the rapid and effective completion, within a short period, of increasing the spillway height by two feet at Hsinlan Dam and by three feet at Sitha Dam has greatly supported the social and econo-mic well-being of the area and local residents. Continuous monitoring and enforcement are required to ensure that forest cover is maintained and that crop cultivation does not occur within the designated water catchment areas of the reservoirs. By carrying out these measures, water resources can be conserved more effectively, and water security can be further strengthened.
The Senior General and party inspected regional development along Ward 19-Namkat Village Anisakhan route from Hsinlan Dam by car and gave instruction on continuous supervision for beautification of PyinOoLwin and systematic land use.
The Senior General and party looked into the efforts to upgrade the three more feet height of the Sitha Dam. The Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation and officials conducted the Senior General round the site.
At Sitha Dam and Sitha Water Supporting Dam, Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Khin Maung Yi reported to the Senior General on the field inspection trip to examine the root causes of forest coverage in PyinOoLwin Township from 2015 to 2020, findings in scrutiny through the RS & GIS technology in addition to google earth and landsat satellite photos, nurturing of forests at the coverage decline area, raising the public awareness for forest coverage, formation of the forest reserves and protected public forests in the better coverage areas, and efforts to increase forest coverage in the vacant and fallow lands.
Concerning the reports, the Senior General said measures are being taken to turn PyinOoLwin into a Cherry City and Flower City. It is necessary to plant yew trees for landscape and greening purposes. For the greening and environmental conservation of the PyinOoLwin area, relevant bodies and authorities are required to conserve the forest reserves and protect-ed areas outside the forest reserves. Only then, can the environmental balance be maintained and water resources be preserved. To maintain the cold climate of PyinOoLwin, it is necessary to grow forests in the north, northeast and south of the town. Continued efforts to preserve the deciduous forests must be made in accordance with forestry.
As the population of the town grows, the needs for water for drinking and agricultural purposes will be high. Moreover, it is necessary to take potable water for tourists who travel from other areas to the area into consideration. The government is ready to provide necessary assistance to upgrade reservoirs and speed up forest coverage tasks in PyinOoLwin area for sufficient water supply. Greening tasks must be continued to be carried out in the entire country by setting PyinOoLwin as a model. If water resources including rivers, creeks and lakes can be conserved systematically and used beneficially, it is necessary to carry out greening tasks without fail. As the out-comes of ongoing greening tasks will be enjoyed by the people of the future, it is necessary to carry out them systematically and beneficially. The Senior General also pointed out other needs.
Then, the Senior General and party inspected the inflow and storage of water into Sitha water supply reservoir and gave necessary instructions based on reports of officials.
Hsinlan and Sitha spillway reservoirs were constructed under the instructions of the Senior General. Hsinlan spillway reservoir was by raised 2 feet, increasing the storage volume from 6,846 feet previously by 412 acre-feet and storing 112 million gallons of more water, which will be able to supplied to 15,000 people in PyinOoLwin, through the 18-inch steel water supply pipe. Similarly, the Sitha spillway reservoir was raised by three feet and its storage capacity increased by 267 acre-feet or 72 million gallons of water from 3,370 acre-feet previously. As a result, water supply to 10,000 more people, contributing a lot to PyinOoLwin area.
Then, the Senior General and party proceeded to Anisakhan Airport and heard reports on constructing the new runway and the airport building submitted by Union Minister for Tran-sport and Communications U Mya Tun Oo and responsible officials at the briefing hall of the airport.
After hearing the reports, the Senior General pointed out the need to conduct estimations systematically for durability. The Senior General also said upgrading Anisakhan Airport aims to make PyinOoLwin a hub for travellers to Shan State and a destination city by facilitating travels to it. Similarly, the Senior General pointed out the need to add pedestrian pavements on both sides of roads in PyinOoLwin in upgrading them and other requirements.
