Sittwe wards face water shortages

By DMG 26 Apr 2022

DMG Newsroom
26 April 2022, Sittwe

Some urban wards in the Arakan State capital Sittwe are facing water shortages as the two major lakes supplying the city are drying up, according to local residents.

Water from Kandawgyi Lake was only available on a regular basis until February, and residents have to buy water these days, said U Kaung Htet of Dannyawaddy (A) ward.

“Last week, we were not supplied water the whole week, except for Sunday. There are 60 shops across the street, and only seven shops have access to water from Kandawgyi Lake. We have to buy water. [The municipality] cited power outages and other reasons,” he said.

Kandawgyi has almost dried up, and Byaing Phyu Ywar, the other major water-supplying lake, is also drying up, said U Khaing Myat Kyaw from north Lanmadaw ward, who added: “The water is not clean. People [who use water from Byaing Phyu Ywar Lake] have developed skin problems. The water is murky. The water shortage is causing troubles for people.”

Daw Ma Hla Phyu, a resident of south Lanmadaw ward, said residents there must buy bottled water to meet their needs. 

“We still have access to water from Byaing Phyu Ywar Lake. We haven’t had clean water since before Thingyan. It can only be used for washing clothes. We have to buy bottled water for cooking,” she said.

Adding to the Arakan State capital’s water woes, some parts of Dannyawaddy, north Lanmadaw, Ma Kyin Myaing and Kandawgyi wards do not have groundwater, and therefore are not candidates for artesian wells.

“The ground is rocky near our houses, and artesian wells can’t be dug,” said Ma Hla Nwe Yi from Kandawgyi ward. “There are private water suppliers in the neighbourhood. And it costs between 25,000 and 30,000 kyats per month. Water from Kandawgyi Lake is not piped to us. There are many people in the neighbourhood who lack access to tap water from Kandawgyi Lake.”

Successive governments have failed to tackle the problem, according to Shwe Pyar ward resident U Zaw Min Tun. 

“Shwe Pyar and Lanmadaw wards have always suffered from water shortages,” he said.

Authorities are distributing water across the city using bowsers, said U Than Tun, the Arakan State military government’s resources minister.

“We took office not long ago and there are still works to do regarding water supply in Sittwe. But we are working to provide full access to water by next year,” he said.

At least nine urban wards in Sittwe are currently facing water shortages.