Department returns money to Manaung residents as solar scheme delays continue 

By Admin 08 Apr 2023

DMG Newsroom
8 April 2023, Manaung

The Department of Rural Development (DRD) in Arakan State’s Manaung Township has reportedly returned money to some residents that was collected from them to have solar power-based systems installed.

As the solar power installation project has been delayed, the DRD has returned the money to the residents.

“We have returned money to locals in 10 villages in two batches since April 5. We have informed the village administrators to pay back money to residents after Thingyan,” U Maung Maung Khin, head of the township Department of Rural Development, told DMG.

The DRD collected money from residents of 33 villages including Let Mel Pyin, Kazun and Zeetaw, to install a solar power system in 2022. The DRD has so far returned K119.4 million to residents in Manaung Township.

“We got our money back. Some residents would contribute money if they would be provided with electricity via a solar energy system. Our villages don’t have electricity, so it’s disappointing because they’re underdeveloped compared to other villages,” said U Nyi Htwe, administrator of the Let Mel Pyin Village-tract.

The DRD charged K150,000 per household to install a 100W solar panel and K50,000 per house to install a 60W solar panel for residents of village-tracts such as Let Mel Pyin, Kazun and Zeetaw, in July and August of 2022.

Now-deposed State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi personally attended the opening of a solar power plant on Manaung Island in December 2019, but when the plant proved unable to meet the township’s electricity needs, the Department of Rural Development offered the as-yet-undelivered solar scheme.