Contamination reported in Ann Township watercourses

By Aung Kaung Zaw 27 Jul 2020

Aung Kaung Zaw | DMG
27 July, Ann

Contamination has recently been discovered in rivers and creeks in Arakan State’s Ann Township, residents said.

Water contamination has been observed along 5 miles of the Ann Chaung Wa River since July 24 and field inspections at other rivers and creeks also revealed pollution, said Ko Myo Lwin from Ann Regional China Pipeline Watch.

“The water colour turns black significantly at Ann Chaung Wa. Other rivers and creeks are not found to have black water but the water is contaminated. Fish and prawn are not seen in any rivers and creeks,” he said.

Residents said fishermen plying the affected watercourses — which include those going by the names of Thinbaw Kwe Pauk, Kywel Cha Pauk and Thanzit — were seeing diminished catches since about a month before the water contamination was noted.

Water pollution was discovered near Maday Island in 2018 and 2019, with this being the third consecutive year of such complaints in Arakan State, Ann Regional China Pipeline Watch said.

“We could record the mass death of mussels underwater due to water pollution in previous years. The government needs to try to get a solution for the case. Residents of the area are depending on the water for their living and are affected so much,” Ko Myo Lwin said.

U Zaw Tun, head of the Ann Township Department of Fisheries, told DMG he was not aware of the reported water contamination and said he would respond after he was briefed on the situation.

“We could not visit the affected areas due to the regional situation, so we have weakness in accessing information,” he said.

Contamination of the Thanzit River in 2018 and 2019 resulted in the large-scale death of fish and prawns as well as causing skin problems for fishermen. Residents say they are concerned about a repeat of those problems this year.