Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Soe Win tours Bhamo, Homalin and Leshi

YANGON, 17 Jan - Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Soe Win, together with SPDC member Lt-Gen Ye Myint, Chairman of Kachin State PDC Commander of Northern Command Maj-Gen Maung Maung Swe, deputy ministers, officials of the SPDC Office and departmental officials inspected Hsinkhan Bridge construction project in Bhamo Township on 14 January morning.

At the briefing hall, Deputy Superintending Engineer of Public Works U Win Kyi reported on progress in construction works and future tasks and requirements. Managing Director of Public Works U Nay Soe Naing gave a supplementary report, and Senior Engineer U Aye Naing Tun reported on construction of Tagaung-Katha road.

Lt-Gen Soe Win and Lt-Gen Ye Myint gave instructions on timely completion of the bridge and meeting the set standard. They next inspected the bridge construction tasks. To develop the regions on the eastern bank of the Ayeyawady River, Mandalay-Tagaung-Katha-Bhamo-Myintkyina Road and Shweli Bridge along the road had been opened. Hsinkhan Bridge lies on Mandalay-Katha-Bhamo-Myitkyina Road. The bridge across Hsinkhan Creek is 460 feet long and 28 feet wide. It can bear 60 tons of loads and is of reinforced concrete.

Next, the Secretary-1 and party met and cordially greeted officials of the project, staff, locals and students. On arrival at Shweli Bridge in Katha Township, Sagaing Division, by helicopter, the Secretary-1 and party were welcomed by Tactical Operation Commander of Central Command Col Thein Hlaing, Katha District PDC Chairman Lt-Col Myo Chit and officials.

At the briefing hall Deputy Director of Directorate of Water Resources and Improvement of River Systems U Thein Aung reported on construction of Kyauksi embankment near Shweli Bridge to prevent erosion and townselders on water currents of Shweli River. Departmental officials also gave a supplementary report. Commander Maj-Gen Maung Maung Swe reported on supply of gravel and Deputy Superintending Engineer U Win Maung on building of 66-mile Ngaoh-Mabein Road. Senior Engineer of Public Works U Ko Ko reported on construction of 15-mile Katha-Ngaoh Road. Lt-Gen Ye Myint gave necessary instructions. The Secretary-1 then instructed officials to complete the construction of Kyauksi embankment by open season.

After viewing Shweli Bridge, the Secretary-1 and party inspected Ngaoh Station Hospital. Next, they looked into construction progress of the embankment. Shweli Bridge linking between Katha Township in Sagaing Division and Mabein Township in Shan State (North) was inaugurated on 9 March 2003. On their arrival at Homalin the Secretary-1 and party were welcome by Col Nyi Tun of Local Battalion and officials. At the briefing hall of Homalin Airport construction project site, Deputy Minister for Transport Col Nyan Tun Aung reported on operation of passenger aircraft and matters related to the airport. Officials also reported on construction of the airport building, apron and air traffic control tower. The Secretary-1 gave necessary instructions after hearing reports by officials on facts about Homalin. He then inspected construction tasks.

Afterwards, Myanmar Education Committee Vice-Chairman Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Soe Win and party inspected the construction of the two-storey school building with 12 classrooms, computer skill room, learning centre, audio visual media classroom, electronic centre and students' learning at Homalin Basic Education High School. They next viewed round the development of the town.

National Health Committee Vice-Chairman Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Soe Win and party saw over the site in Naungpakyit Ward chosen for the construction of 100-bed Homalin Township Hospital. Medical Superintendent Dr Myo Myint conducted them round the site.

At the township hall, the Secretary-1 met with service personnel, members of USDA and social associations and townselders and fulfilled the needs for the development of the township. Then, he said the State has been implementing sector-wise projects for balanced development of the whole country and Homalin Township is also included in it. The transport of the region has now become smooth as the new airport was constructed, he said. Therefore, all the national people are unitedly to take part in the building of new modern developed nation, he added.

The Secretary-1 next gave instructions on arrangements for development of Homalin and turning out of outstanding youths in the region. The Secretary-1 and party met with officers and other ranks and their families at the hall of Homalin Station. Lt-Gen Ye Myint gave necessary instructions.

On arrival at Leshi by helicopter, the Secretary-1 and party were welcomed by Sagaing Division PDC Chairman North-West Command Commander Maj-Gen Tha Aye, Sports Minister Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint, officials and Naga nationals.

In meeting with local authorities and townselders at the township PDC office, the Secretary-1 heard reports by Chairman U Hla Tun on conditions of motor roads linking between Leshi Township and other regions, construction of village-to-village roads, education, health, agriculture and requirements. Next, township level departmental staff submitted their requirements and the sports minister, deputy ministers and departmental heads reported on measures being taken for the development of the region. Commander Maj-Gen Tha Aye gave a supplementary report. Lt-Gen Ye Myint gave necessary instructions. The Secretary-1 then enquired about the conditions of Leshi region, duties and responsibilities of the department-staff and construction of Leshi-Lahe-Namyon Road, and fulfilled the needs.

On 15 January morning, the Secretary-1 and party inspected Leshi Township People's Hospital and gave instructions to officials on construction of a new hospital building. After that, the Secretary-1 and party paid homage to Sayadaw Bhaddanta Sudhasana and Sayadaws and members of the Sangha of Naga hill region at Leshi Monastery and presented offertories. They next inspected the electronic audio visual room, computer room, e-education learning centre and learning of students at Leshi BEHS. The headmaster reported on building of new school building and Deputy Minister for Education Col Aung Myo Min gave a supplementary report. After giving instructions, the Secretary-1 inspected the site for the construction of the school building.

Member of Panel of Patrons of the Union Solidarity and Development Association Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Soe Win, together with USDA CEC member (Sagaing Division in charge) Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint at 2 pm met with USDA secretaries and members of Sagaing Division, Hkamti District and Hkamti, Leshi, Lahe and Namyon Townships at Leshi Township USDA Office, and gave instructions on active participation in rural development works. Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint presented cash assistance to USDA members.

Then, the Secretary-1 and party looked into dinning rooms and hostels where tourists will put up in Naga Traditional New Year Festival, and restaurants. Later, they also inspected the TV retransmission station and satellite telephone station in Leshi.