28 July
THE Bridge Construction Group-5 under the Ministry of Construction built a new bridge over the Yaw Creek in Ashae Kantwin Village, Seikphyu Township in Magway Region early this year. Locals from nearby areas used a wooden bridge in the past but it was completely damaged by two separate strong winds in 2010 and 2011, triggering a traffic delay for residents and travellers.
The local government gave a green light for construction of a new bridge crossing the Yaw Creek in the fiscal year 2017-2018 for the convenience of local people. The new bridge is of reinforced concrete type and is 900 ft. in length and 30 ft. wide. The bridge has a 3 ft. long pedes-trian walkway on each side and can withstand up to 60 tons of weight. Constriction of the bridge started on 5 June 2017 at a cost of Ks. 2,700 million funds from the Union Budget. The new bridge was commissioned into service. Residents from nearby areas can now use the new bridge in all seasons with greater ease, thereby contributing to socioeconomic development of the area.
The Bridge Construction Group-3 under the ministry also built a bridge over the Shwe Panpin Creek on the Taungdwingyi-Natmauk Road in Myothit Township, Magway Region. The bridge was built with the regional government’s funds in the fiscal year 2018-2019 and it is 180 ft. long, 24 ft. wide and has 3 ft. wide walkways on each side. The Department of Road began construction of the bridge’s approach on 1 June and was opened to traffic on 10 June. The bridge was opened to pedestrians and vehicles with 60 tons of weight on 10 June, said U Nyein Chan, Senior Assistant Engineer from the Department of Road.
An inauguration ceremony of the Mone Bridge on the Minbu-Salin-Tanyaung Road has been held at the bridge in Pwintbyu Township, Magway Region recently. Construction of the reinforced concrete facility began on 21 May 2017 and was built by the Bridge Construction Group-5 under the Ministry of Construction. The bridge is 1300 ft. long, 24 ft. wide and has a 3 ft. wide walkway on each side of the bridge and it can withstand up to 60 tons of weight.
The Department of Rural Development un-der the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation carried out water supply tasks in 123 villages in Magway Region where local people suffer from water scarcity. “Magway Region is located in arid zone of Myanmar and local people in these areas face water shortage almost every year due to extreme hot weather. The DRD has been undertaking 74 deep tube wells, 3 shallow tube wells, 2 manual wells, 6 earthen ponds, 5 fetching water systems and 33 other water supply tasks in the region by spending Ks. 2360.604 million since December 2018.
All projects have been 100 percent finished, said U Myo Aung, an official from the DRD. The DRD is prioritizing the availability of clean water in rural areas. The regional lawmakers and the township management committee chose the villages where residents can face water shortage on a prioritized basis. The department cooperates with NGOs, INGOs and donors and is also mak-ing arrangements to distribute water to people who may face water scarcity due to extreme hot weather. People in water scarcity-affected areas can ask for help from the DRD by phone any time, he added.
The DRD also constructed a rural power line from the National Grid has in Myaung Village, Mindon Township in Magway Region. The power line was built by the DRD under its fourth phase of the community-centered project. 21 concrete poles were erected to transmit electricity via the National Grid by spending Ks. 11.772 million funded by the World Bank. In addition, electricity supply tasks are being undertaken in the township with the financial assistance from the project and cash donated by local people, said an official from the DRD.
By Kyaw Htike Soe
