Displaced by dam, Thandwe Twsp villages face drinking water shortages

By DMG 12 May 2021

DMG Newsroom
12 May 2021, Thandwe

Yay Kauk and Payit villages in Thandwe Township are facing drinking water scarcity, according to local villagers.

“Although we have been provided drinking water with water vehicles, it is not enough for all the people here with just three or four water trucks. These vehicles break down regularly. We have faced difficulty getting water,” said Payit village resident U Hla Shwe.

The two villages were moved to sites between Jain Taung dam and Daw Mya village as their former locations were within the project area of Tha Htay Chaung hydropower dam in Thandwe Township.

U Aung Gyi, a villager of Yay Kauk village, said residents get no water if water trucks do not come, affecting drinking, cooking, bathing and other aspects of everyday life.

“We have to carry water from outside of our village by hiring motorcycles. It is not convenient for us to buy water while we are jobless. We want sufficient water,” he said.

U Aung Khin Thein, the Yay Kauk village-tract administrator, said efforts were being made to address the water scarcity.

“Now, we’ve provided water. We’ve also planned to carry water from Shweli by using water-carrying vehicles. We’ll deal with these difficulties,” he said.

There are 461 households in the two villages.

Seasonal water shortages have been reported in several towns, villages and displacement camps in Arakan State over recent weeks, including the state capital Sittwe.