Work on construction projects slow going at Lay Taung town in Ramree Twsp

By DMG 13 Nov 2021

DMG Newsroom
13 November 2021, Sittwe 

Construction work on a variety of development projects in Lay Taung town, Ramree Township, is only about 25% complete more than two years after Lay Taung was recognised as a town, its organising committee said. 

The previous government recognised Lay Taung as a town in September 2019, and a slate of buildings and other infrastructure was put forward as part of the new designation, but those projects remain works in progress, said U Aung Naing Tun, secretary of the organising committee. 

“Developing concrete roads, electricity supply access and some office buildings has been implemented now. Electricity will be supplied in March 2022,” U Aung Naing Tun told DMG. 

The organising committee said construction of a General Administration Department office and staff housing is 90% complete, while development of concrete roads in the town is 75% complete and work connecting power lines is about 80% complete. 

U Kyaw Aye, a resident of Lay Taung town, said agricultural produce and fishery products from the Lay Taung area will fetch better prices when transportation improves and electricity access is established in the town. 

“Now, we do not have electricity access; we cannot get ice. So, fish rot easily. When there is electricity access, we can send fish outside Arakan State by keeping them in cold storage. Now, we face losses due to [lack of cold storage],” he said. 

The National League for Democracy (NLD) government allocated a budget to implement projects in Lay Taung, but the current regime council has not granted a budget for developing buildings and infrastructure in the town.  

A town hall, market and sports stadium should be developed immediately so that Lay Taung will have some of the infrastructure befitting its 2019 designation as a town, residents said.  

Residents of Lay Taung primarily work in the fisheries and agriculture sectors, while some are also involved in skilled trades such as carving, painting and goldsmithing. Given Lay Taung’s recognition as a town two years ago, residents have expressed hope that their lives will improve.