Khabaung dam project will irrigate 100,000 acres of farmland and
power plant project can generate 30 megawatts Senior General Than Shwe inspects Khabaung Multipurpose Dam Project, Thandaung Hill Station   

Yangon, 13 March — Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe, accompanied by members of the State Peace and Development Council General Thura Shwe Mann, Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than, Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, Lt-Gen Kyaw Win and Lt-Gen Tin Aye, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Vice-Admiral Soe Thein, Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen Myat Hein, Chairman of Bago Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Southern Command Maj-Gen Ko Ko, the ministers, senior military officers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office and departmental officials, arrived at Khabaung Multipurpoe Dam Project in Oktwin Township from Shwegyin Township by helicopter on 11 March afternoon.

The Senior General and party were welcomed by Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation U Ohn Myint and officials. In the briefing hall, the Senior General heard reports on matters related to the dam project and progress of work by Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Htay Oo.

Director-General U Win Kyaw of the Department of Hydro-electric Power also reported on tasks of the Khabaung hydel power project and progress of work. Minister for Electric Power Maj-Gen Tin Htut gave a supplementary report on construction of the water intake tunnel and purchase of machinery.

Deputy Minister U Ohn Myint submitted reports on building of the main embankment and prospects of storage capacity of water in the dam. Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi presented reports on supply of fuel for the project.

After hearing the reports, Senior General Than Shwe gave guidance on timely completion of the project  and tasks to be carried out systematically.

Next, Senior General Than Shwe and party inspected the main embankment of the dam project, use of heavy machinery and progress of work.

Khabaung Multipurpose Dam Project is being implemented by the Construction-5 of Irrigation Department and Construction-3 of Hydro-electric Power Department. It is located on Khabaung Creek in Oktwin Township. The earth embankment of the dam will be 920 feet long and 200 feet high. The dam project will irrigate 100,000 acres of farmland and the power plant project can generate 30 megawats.

After inspecting functions of the dam project, they proceeded to Toungoo where LID Commander Brig-Gen Khin Zaw Oo, Brig-Gen Win Myint of Pyinmana Station, Brig-Gen Kyaw Aung of Toungoo Station, senior military officers and departmental officials welcomed the Senior General and party.

On 12 March morning, the Senior General and party viewed round beautifying of Kandawgyi Lake in Toungoo and development of the town.

Next, they flew to Thandaung Hill Station of Thandaung Township in Kayin State from Toungoo.

They were welcomed there by Vice-Chief of Armed Forces Training Maj-Gen Aung Kyi and officials.

From the hill where helicopter landed, Senior General Than Shwe viewed scenic beauty of the hill station. Afterwards, Senior General Than Shwe and party oversaw Thandaung Hill Station by car.

On arrival at Bayintnaung Yeiktha of Bayaintnaung Tatmyo, Commander Maj-Gen Ko Ko briefed the Senior General on development of the hill station, beautifying tasks and construction of 18 miles long Thandaunggyi-Leiktho Road, Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung on the growing of cinchona along either side of Thandaunggyi-Leiktho Road.

Member of the State Peace and Development Council Chief of Armed Forces Training Lt-Gen Kyaw Win reported on matters related to Bayintnaung Tatmyo. Deputy Commandant of Defence Services (Army) Combat Training School Col Khin Maung Hla also submitted reports on training courses at the school and agriculture and livestock breeding tasks.

Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt presented reports on the upgrading of Thandaung and construction of the hill station, the improvement of the motor road to Thandaung Hill Station, water supply for the hill station, construction of buildings of private entrepreneurs in the hotel zone and recreation of visitors, facilities of 16-bed hospital, growing of coffee, tea, cardamom, pepper, cinchona, djenkol bean and durian plantations and salient points of implementing Thandaung Hill Station.

The minister continued his reports on progress of tasks carried out by the Development Affairs Department in accord with the guidance on the development of the hill station given by Senior General Than Shwe on his inspection tour of Thandaung Hill Station on 2001.

After hearing the reports, Senior General Than Shwe gave guidance on building Thandaung Hill Station as the hill recreation station of Lower Myanmar like PyinOoLwin and Kalaw and preparations to be made for the hill station which can attract tourists.

Thandaung Hill Station, 28 miles from Toungoo, is located in Thandaung Township of Kayin State. It is on a 4,050 feet high sea level. The station is within easy reach of tourists.

As plots of three hotel zones have been allotted to the entrepreneurs, at present bungalows are being built.

At 1 pm, the Senior General and party met with Tatmadawmen, families and trainees of Bayintnaung Station at Bayintnaung Hall. At the meeting, General Thura Shwe Mann delivered an address.

Next, the Senior General gave guidance and cordially conversed with them.

Later, the Senior General and party went back to Toungoo by helicopter.