Gov’t to speed up water management

June 4, 2017

The National-level Water Resource Committee chaired by Vice President U Henry Van Thio held its second meeting in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday, alerting ministries to speed up the cooperation and coordination for water management of the country.

The meeting focused on the committee’s future works including rainwater storage, drafting water laws, measures for reducing floods and water scarcity, conservation of the environment and forests in watershed areas and seeking ways for fighting pollution in the rivers.

Vice President U Henry Van Thio has called for taking urgent steps for improvement of environmental conservation, putting the conservation of Inle Lake in Shan State and watershed areas of dams under the spotlight in the 2017-2018 Financial Year.

“In the 2017-2018 Financial Year, sustainable development of Inle Lake and the environment need to be improved and works on conservation of watershed areas of dams and forest plantation in watershed areas are urgently needed to achieve success,” said U Henry Van Thio.

He also stressed the need to find ways for fighting pollution of the Ayeyawady River. In his capacity as the chairman of the committee, which will host the third Asia-Pacific Water Conference, U Henry Van Thio also urged the ministries concerned to work together for prevention of flooding and waster scarcity and development of the water sector in the country.

“Ministries concerned are obliged to assist the National-level Water Resource Committee in its future works for reducing floods, drafting a water bill, controlling water pollution,” said the Vice President.

Myanmar is currently drawing up the work plan for improvement of infrastructure and capacity related with water management as part of efforts for getting financial assistance from China under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation programme, said U Thant Sin Maung, Union Minister for Transport and Communications.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar