Water shortages plague some Arakan State townships

By Admin 09 May 2023

DMG Newsroom
9 May 2023, Sittwe

Reservoirs are being dug in some Arakan State townships that are facing the problem of water scarcity, with donations and funds contributed by local residents.

Locals say man-made lakes are being dug in Minbya, Mrauk-U, Ponnagyun and Rathedaung townships on a self-reliant basis in an attempt to address water scarcity in the coming years.

Two lakes are being excavated in Minbya’s Pyidawhla and Shwe Min Kan quarters.

“Almost all of the lakes in Minbya have dried up. Two lakes are being dug in two wards in Minbya with the cash donations of local people. We are making arrangements to dig lakes in some other wards,” said U Thein Tun, the administrator of Pyidawtha Ward.

U Thein Tun added that the neighbourhoods in Minbya town are supplied with water from the Phalaungpyin reservoir once a week, but there is not enough water, requiring residents to buy water from other sources.

Five lakes in Pauktawpyin Village, part of Ponnagyun Township, have dried up and other reservoirs are being dug on a self-reliant basis, said Ko Aung Kyaw Soe, a villager.

“We are facing water scarcity every year. Five lakes are being dug with the cash donations of local people at home and abroad so that we do not face shortages of drinking water in the years to come,” he explained.

At present, residents of Pauktawpyin Village have to fetch drinking water from a lake in neighbouring Ywa Haung Village, about a 20-minute walk from Pauktawpyin.

Locals in Rathedaung and the township General Administration Department are digging two lakes in downtown areas using money donated by residents.

Lakes in downtown Rathedaung have dried up and locals are allowed to fetch water from two lakes for just two hours a day, said Ko Nay Zaw Oo, a Rathedaung local.

“All residents in Rathedaung fetch water from Pyidawtha Lake. People are only allowed to fetch water from the lake for a limited time. People will likely face shortage of water because Kandawgyi Lake will dry up next week,” he added.

Residents of Rathedaung have been using water from the pond and drain near Pyarchaunggyi Village, on the other side of the Rathedaung Creek, due to insufficient drinking water.

Despite the fact that Arakan State receives 200 inches of rainfall annually, it lacks the facilities to store rainwater, and thus faces water shortages every year, said planning officer Daw Khin Than of the Dr. Saw Mya Aung Foundation.

“The main reason for the drought is deforestation, and the lack of water in lakes due to the decrease in rainfall,” she said.

She continued that the foundation is digging a lake in Ngakhaw Village in Mrauk-U Township, which is facing a water shortage, and depending on the availability of funding, more lakes will be dug.