Farmlands in two Taungup Twsp villages damaged by seawater

10 Jul 2022

DMG Newsroom
10 July 2022, Taungup

Villagers in Ahmaw and Kanpein villages on Pantin Island, Taungup Township, say that nearly 80 acres of farmland belonging to local villagers have been damaged by seawater.

U Kyan Naing, a resident of Kanpein village, said the damage to the farmlands was caused by a shrimp farm near the village, which flooded the surrounding fields due to poor drainage.

“A shrimp farm has been dug, so there is no waterway and the water is not flowing,” he explained.

Ko Soe Min Htwe, another Kanpein villager, said about 20 acres of farmland near the village were flooded by seawater.

“Due to the influx of seawater, the water is not safe to drink. Without this prawn farm, there would be no flooding,” he added.

The prawn farm reportedly belongs to U Aung Bala, who was told of the matter by villagers but did not do anything about it, locals said. DMG was unable to obtain comment from U Aung Bala.

About 60 acres of farmland near Ahmaw village, meanwhile, were flooded by salt water due to the digging of a prawn farm near that village, according to locals.

The village-tract administrator has reported the damage to the farmland to the Taungup Township administrator, and inspection teams are being set up to carry out field inspections, said Ahmaw village administrator U Han Shwe.

“In our village, prawn farms have been dug and farmland has been flooded. I summoned the owners of the prawn farms to discuss the matter, but they didn’t come. I reported the damage to the farmland to the Taungup township administrator, and inspection teams are being set up to carry out field inspections,” he told DMG.

Three prawn farms belong to three residents in Ahmaw village, the village administrator added.

Villagers have demanded that the government take immediate action to prevent the flooding of farmland in Ahmaw and Kanpein villages.