UNION Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, U Khin Maung Yi and party carried out a pre­liminary investigation by plane over PyinOoLwin on whether there are trespassing in forest reserves and protected areas, whether there are uses of va­cant lands and farmlands for other purposes without official permission and whether there are illegal uses of land plots which are under the manage­ment of the government.

Along with Mandalay Re­gion Chief Minister U Myo Aung, directors-general and of­ficials from the Settlement and Land Records Department, the Forest Department, the Survey Department and officials from the General Administration De­partment carried out the aerial investigation on the morning of 8 March over the town.

The ministry has strength­ened its efforts for expanding of the stretch of forest cover areas and ensuring the forest conser­vation, proper management, the conservation of irrigated areas and the establishment of forest farms for the green area, so respective depart­ments have carried out field investigations to make sure of no illegal settlements and illegal land uses as well as for regulating the uses of land, by forming delegations.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation has also carried out mobile inspections from the aerial view as part of supervi­sory tours on forest conserva­tion projects and prevention of wildlife fire and smoke hazard. — Htun Htun/ZS