Villagers want access to water from Kyaukphyu Twsp dam’s reservoir

By DMG 08 Mar 2022

DMG Newsroom
8 March 2022, Kyaukphyu

Rural people from Thaing Chaung village-tract in Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu Township want access to water from the Thaing Chaung Dam to prevent water shortages over the summer months.

Thaing Chaung village-tract residents are demanding that the Thaing Chaung Dam’s reservoir be distributed to nearby villages this summer, when water shortages are expected.

Two lakes in Thaing Chaung village-tract are being used by people from more than 200 households, and locals say they may face water shortages before the end of this month.

“The water in the village lakes is about to dry up, so it is very difficult for the local people if there is a shortage of water,” said U San Oo Maung, a resident of Zai Chaung village in Thaing Chaung village-tract. “Villagers had to fetch water from a lake about 30 minutes away, so they couldn’t do any other work. Therefore, if water from the Thaing Chaung reservoir is allowed to be used, it will be very convenient for the people.”

There are seven villages in the Thaing Chaung village-tract, and if locals are allowed to use water from the Thaing Chaung Dam’s reservoir, they will be able to grow crops in the summer, said the Thaing Chaung village-tract administrator, U San Kyaw Yee.

“If irrigation water can be used, there will be no problem for the locals to get drinking water and they will be able to farm in the summer. I want the authorities to help the local people get access to irrigation water,” he added.

Locals say they are planning to apply for water-use permits pertaining to the Thaing Chaung Dam and reservoir, and will clear the way for installation of pipelines as needed.

Construction on Thaing Chaung Dam began in fiscal year 2014-15, with the aim of providing water for the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone. Although the dam was completed in 2017, locals have not, to date, been allowed to use water from its reservoir.