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Yangon, 20 Feb — Member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Ye Myint of the Ministry of Defence, met township level officials and members of social organizations and discussed matters related to regional development at the office of TadaU Township Peace and Development Council yesterday morning.

Township Peace and Development Council Chairman U Ko Ko Lay reported on geographical facts about the township, measures being taken for regional development projects, cultivable acres of land and sown acreage, and extended cultivation plan for regional food sufficiency.

Lt-Gen Ye Myint discussed progress in implementing regional projects. In his speech, Lt-Gen Ye Myint said that their tour was aimed at rendering assistance in carrying out regional development tasks in Mandalay Division, and the drive to ensure  for local rice sufficiency and providing necessary assistance. He added that spending a huge sum of funds, the government had been constructing diversion weirs and dams and implementing river water pumping projects to grow for ensuring regional rice sufficiency in Myingyan, NyaungU and Kyaukse districts and TadaU Township. Paddy should be cultivated at least once a year, and the land will have to be put under other crops also. Water from irrigation facilities should be used effectively for full utilization of the land.

In the process, it was needed to use high-yield and quality strains and fertilizers for boosting per acre yield. It was required to collect exact data on sown acreage, population and rice production for local food sufficiency. Means and ways will have to be sought for more water supply and land reclamation. In doing so, endeavours were to be made under the supervision of respective departmental officials and local authorities with assistance of social organizations.

The government has constructed the roads linking TadaU Township and other townships. Therefore, one can travel from one place to another in the region in a short time. Departments and authorities at different levels were to collectively strive for upgrading these roads and to make field trips to grassroots level for development of the township. In conclusion, he called on respon-sible   personnel   to   make all-out efforts with the conception that ensuring development of their region relied on them.

Then, Lt-Gen Ye Myint and party went to the Road Construction Special Group 13 of  Public Works in TadaU section of NyaungU-Myingyan-Myotha-TadaU Road near Yaykamoe Village. Chief Engineer U Aung Ngwe reported on work progress. Lt-Gen Ye Myint gave necessary instructions.

Lt-Gen Ye Myint and party inspected progress in tarring TadaU-Myotha section from mile post 492 to 494/4 and paving stones from mile post 492 to 494/5. They then inspected work progress along TadaU-Myotha section.

They headed for the Natthataw Dam Construction Project near Natthataw Village, Ngazun Township, Myingyan District. At the briefing hall, Assistant Director of District Irrigation Department U Khin Maung Shwe reported on location, embankment type and conduit pipe of the dam, climate and rainfall of the region, number of acres to be irrigated, progress of land preparations, construction of spillway and conduit pipe and arrival of heavy machinery. District Peace and Development Council Vice-Chairman Lt-Col Win Myint and Division ID Director U Tin Aung gave supplementary reports.

Lt-Gen Ye Myint inspected damming Natthataw Creek with the use of heavy machinery, construction of conduit pipes and arrangements for damming Shwelinban Creek and left necessary instructions.

Lt-Gen Ye Myint and party went to Kyauktalon River Pumping Project (Extension) in Htanzinhla region, Ngazun Township. At the briefing hall, Deputy Director-General of the Water Resource Utilization Department U Hla Myint Maung and Assistant Director U Win Hsan reported on salient points about the projects, work progress, supply of electricity, cement and fuel and requirements.

Lt-Gen Ye Myint gave instructions on arrangements to be made for ensuring full irrigation of planned fields, cultivation of at least one cropping of paddy and minimizing loss and wastage and attended to the needs.

At 3 pm, they met with departmental officials at Ngazun Township Peace and Development Council office and discussed regional development and food sufficiency. Also present were Myingyan District Peace and Development Council Chairman Lt-Col Win Myint, Ngazun Township Peace and Development Council Chairman U Myint Ko Than and members, members of Township Agricultural Supervisory Committee, departmental officials, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, Maternal and Child Welfare Association and local populace.

Chairman U Myint Ko Than reported on progress in implementing projects guided by Head of State Senior General Than Shwe, conditions of paddy fields to be irrigated from Kyauktalon, Ywathit and Ngamya river water pumping projects in Ngazun Township and Myotha Dam, Phaungkataw Dam and Natthataw Dam and regional development endeavours.

Speaking on the occasion, Lt-Gen Ye Myint said that Ngazun Township needs food sufficiency. Head of State Senior General Than Shwe himself arrived in Ngazun in January 2003 and managed to build river water pumping projects and dams as well as regional development tasks. Therefore, local people of Ngazun Township are to participate in the regional development tasks and digging of feeder canals. Likewise, it is necessary to reclaim farmlands and put the land under paddy with the use of irrigation facilities. Local authorities are urged to supervise these tasks. Departmental personnel are also to discharge their duties conscientiously and go right down to grassroots level in the regional development tasks. Then, Lt-Gen Ye Myint and party went to Ywathit river water pumping project in Ngazun Township. Deputy Director-General U Hla Myint Maung of Water Resource Utilization Department reported on benefited areas of the project, availability of heavy machinery and fuel, digging of canals and installation of the pump.

Lt-Gen Ye Myint called on local authorities to cooperate with local people in digging the canals among the farmlands.

Next, Lt-Gen Ye Myint gave instructions on use of water, cultivation of monsoon paddy and digging of canals among the farmlands.

Afterwards, Lt-Gen Ye Myint inspected the site for installation of the pump at the bank of Ayeyawady River and flow of water in the river. They then arrived at Ngamya river water pumping project in Ngazun. Deputy Director-General U Hla Myint Maung reported on the main pump station, water pumping programme, irrigated areas, arrangements for digging the main canal and tributary canals and power supply.

After hearing the reports, Lt-Gen Ye Myint inspected the bank of Ayeyawady River where the main pump station will be built. Then, he gave necessary instructions. Next, Lt-Gen Ye Myint and party left the project for Myingyan and they arrived back here via Mandalay today.