Prime Minister looks into development tasks in Mandalay Division

YANGON, 1 Feb - Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt, accompanied by the ministers, the chairman of the Civil Service Selection and Training Board, the deputy ministers, officials from the State Peace and Development Council Office, departmental heads and officials, left here by air on 30 January and arrived at Toungoo airport in Bago Division at 1 pm. Brig-Gen Thura Myint Thein of Toungoo Station, Deputy Commander of Southern Command Brig-Gen Thura Maung Ni, officials and social organization members welcomed the Prime Minister and party. Afterwards, the Prime Minister and party arrived at Lewe Township, Yamethin District in Mandalay District, where Tactical Operations Commander Col Aye Lwin, Yamethin District and Township PDC members, officials and social organization members welcomed them.

Myanmar Education Committee Chairman Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt visited No 1 BEHS in Lewe, where members of the board of trustees of the school, Schoolhead Daw Mya Sein, teachers and students welcomed them. The Prime Minister and party inspected the CD library, computer skills room, computer aided instruction room and language lab. In meeting with the township education officer, the schoolheads and teachers at the hall of the school, the Prime Minister heard the reports of the schoolhead and gave necessary instructions.

The Prime Minister instructed to upgrade a BEHS (Branch) into a BEHS, an affiliated BEHS into a BEHS (Branch).

Afterwards, the Prime Minister presented a TV, a VCD player and a set of computer for the school through the schoolhead.

The Prime Minister then visited No 2 BEHS in Lewe and presented a TV, a VCD player and a set of computer for the school through Schoolhead U Kyaw Aye.

National Health Committee Chairman Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt and party arrived at Lewe People's Hospital where Medical Superintendent Dr Aye Mar Kyi, doctors and nurses welcomed them. After looking around there, the Prime Minister instructed to upgrade the 16-bed hospital into a 25-bed one.

They stopped for the night at Pyinmana.

On the next morning, the Prime Minister and party paid obeisance to Presiding Sayadaw of KanU monastery of Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha Sayadaw Agga Maha Kammahtanacariya Bhad-danta Vajama and members of the Sangha at Mingala Zeyon Pariyatti Sarthintaik in Pyinmana.

The Prime Minister also visited Pyinmana People's Hospital (100 bed) where he was welcomed by Medical Superintendent Dr Myo Thant, specialists, doctors and nurses. He inspected the surgical theatre, surgical, child ward, delivery room and out-patient unit and gave instructions on renovation and sanitation tasks.

The Prime Minister met with Yamethin District and Township PDC members and officials at the hall of the hospital. Yamethin District PDC Chairman Lt-Col Aung Kyi Shein reported on education and health tasks in the district and requirements. Officials concerned also presented reports on growing and production of monsoon and summer paddy, growing of beans and pulses, industrial crops and sugarcane and local rice sufficiency.

Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin presented a supplementary report.

Prime Minister fulfilled the requirements. In his discussions, he said officials from central level laid down national plans for harmonious development of all parts of the Union and raising of socio-economic life of national people. They made trips to grassroots level and fulfilled requirements for improvement of economic basic foundations, education and health standard, transport and development of the regions.

He said regional authorities are responsible for implementation of guidance of high-ranking officials in accord with State's development arrangements and measures for improvement of quality of life of the people.

Officials at different levels are to make field trips to grassroots levels and to fulfil requirements for better transport in the region, success of agricultural, livestock breeding and other economic enterprises, improvement of education and health standard of rural people, he said.

He said township level departmental official are fully responsible for rural development. Only when the requirements of local people are fulfilled can progress be made in the rural regions.

He spoke of the need for them to actively participate in rural development tasks after formation of committees on various sectors under the supervision of departments concerned. He called on them to strive for realization of the objectives.

The Prime Minister and party then flew to Paunglaung multi-purpose dam in Pyinmana Township. At the briefing hall there, Minister Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin reported matters on construction of main rappel-filled dam and spillway built by the Irrigation Department and launching of irrigated farming.

Minister for Electric Power Maj-Gen Tin Htut reported on construction of diversion tunnel and related buildings, power intake and underground power station that has 38 tunnels, installation of machinery and 230 KVA power grid and Pyinmana power station (Branch), being constructed by the ministry. The Prime Minister gave instructions on systematic implementation of the projects, durability and construction of the buildings in accord with the standard set.

The Prime Minister inspected construction tasks for the spillway and the main rappel-filled dam, digging of the tunnel, and installation of four machines at power house. The Paunglaung multi-purpose dam is being implemented on Paunglaung River 11 miles to the east of Pyinmana. On completion, it will supply water to 35,000 acres of land and generate 911 million kilowatt hours.

Afterwards, the Prime Minister and party arrived at Central Institute of Civil Service (Upper Myanmar) in PyinOoLwin Township to attend the conclusion ceremony of Special Refresher Course No 1 for university/college teachers.

On arrival at PyinOoLwin, Minister for Forestry Brig-Gen Thein Aung, Pyin-OoLwin Station Commander Brig-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and military and civil officers welcomed the Prime Minister and party.

At the guest house of National Kandawgyi Garden in PyinOoLwin, Minister Brig-Gen Thein Aung reported on arrangements being made for natural landmarks of states and divisions in the extended part of the garden. The Prime Minister and party looked around the garden and inspected storage of water, growing of trees and maintenance tasks.

At the briefing hall of Coffee Research and Development Centre in PyinOoLwin, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin and officials reported to the Prime Minister on coffee sown acreage and production of states and divisions in Myanmar, land reclamation for coffee plantations covered in the project to extend growing of coffee on 100,000 acres, arrangements for growing of coffee between PyinOoLwin and Naungkio townships in line with the guidance of the Head of State, arrangements to supply water and distribution of coffee saplings.

After giving necessary instructions, the Prime Minister heard the reports of private entrepreneurs and attended to the needs. He then greeted FAO resident representative Mr Tang Zhengping who offers help to grow coffee.

The Prime Minister viewed the sample mushrooms and various medicines produced from mushrooms. He inspected coffee nursery, macadamia plantation, coffee crusher and lab. At the Medical Research Department (Upper Myanmar), Director-General Dr Htay Aung and staff welcomed the Prime Minister and party.

The director-general reported on research works for producing medicine from indigenous medicinal plants for malaria, TB, diabetes, hypertension, and diarrhoea, collection of 449 medicinal plants from states and divisions and organization of scholars for research works. The Prime minister gave instructions to systematically set up an indigenous medicine garden.

After looking around there, the Prime Minister and party proceeded to Mandalay International Airport and arrived back here in the evening.

Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan who accompanied the Prime Minister on 30 January night met with the Yamethin District Staff Officer, and staff officers of Pyinmana, Lewe, Tatkon and Pyawbwe township Information and Public Relations Department at the IPRD office in Pyinmana. Yamethin District Staff Officer U Maung Ko and township staff officers reported on implementation of tasks. Pyinmana TV Retransmission Station Head reported on retransmission of TV programmes to three townships. The minister gave necessary instructions.