PyinOoLwin steps up drive to become Myanmar’s premier flower and travel city

Water resources and transport facilities in PyinOoLwin Town­ship are being upgraded as part of broader efforts to develop the area into a national model for comprehensive development.

 

ACTING President of the Re­public of the Union of Myanmar and State Security and Peace Commission Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by Com­mission Secretary and Joint Executive Chief General Ye Win Oo, members of the inspection team, the Mandalay Region Chief Minister and officials, inspected undertakings to ensure water sufficien­cy for the PyinOoLwin region and the beautification process yesterday morning.

 

On arrival at the briefing hall of Hsinlan Dam, the Senior General heard reports on efforts to ensure water suf­ficiency of PyinOoLwin Township and further works, upgrading the spillway with the two-foot more height of the facility at Hsinlan Dam for providing further suffi­ciency of drinking water in PyinOoLwin Township in accord with the guidance of the Head of State in April 2025, upgrading of the Sitha Dam with a three-foot-height of facility at the spillway, construction of Hsinlan-2 Dam for supplying sufficient wa­ter to PyinOoLwin and agricultural water, construction of Pwekauk diversion weir and Pintee Dam, and potential prospects.

 

In his response, the Senior General gave guidance, saying that the construc­tion projects for the Hsinlan 2 Dam and the Pintee Dam should be implemented to ensure an adequate supply of drinking wa­ter and irrigation water for PyinOoLwin. The Hsinlan 2 Dam project is located on the Sinphyu Creek near Sinphyu-inn Vil­lage. Once completed, the dam is expected to have an estimated storage capacity of 1,200 acre-feet of water. Water from Sinphyu Creek will be supplied through the Yinthama diversion weir downstream of the dam and delivered to Yadanabon New Town using a gravity-flow system. In addition to enabling the expansion of drinking water distribution to Ward Nos 9, 16, 17 and 18, the project will also provide irrigation support for farmland along the stream, benefiting agricultural areas that rely on water supplement.

 

The Pintee Dam construction project is located on the Thabyaik Creek near Pintee Village and, once completed, will have an estimated storage capacity of 4,000 acre-feet of water. The stored wa­ter will be supplied year-round to 1,015 acres of farmland along Thabyaik Creek through seven diversion weirs using a gravity-flow system, which is expected to significantly support local food security. In addition, the project will enable the expansion of drinking water distribution to urban Wards 10, 11 and 12 through a pumping system. Once dam projects are completed, PyinOoLwin will be able to secure a stable drinking water supply that can also meet future population needs. Furthermore, the increased water avail­ability will support the city’s signature development programmes – the Flower City and Coffee City initiatives – while also contributing to a greener environ­ment. Tourism in the region is expected to grow substantially, which in turn will help improve socioeconomic conditions for locals. Therefore, it is necessary to continue systematically carrying out the required preparatory and assessment work for the planned expansion and con­struction of the dams.

 

The Senior General and the party inspected the storage of water at the Hsin­lan Dam and the upgrade of the spillway. The Senior General heard reports of of­ficials and gave guidance that the rapid and effective completion, within a short period, of increasing the spillway height by two feet at Hsinlan Dam and by three feet at Sitha Dam has greatly supported the social and economic well-being of the area and residents. Continuous monitoring and enforcement are required to ensure that forest cover is maintained and that crop cultivation does not occur within the designated water catchment areas of the reservoirs. By carrying out these meas­ures, water resources can be conserved more effectively, and water security can be further strengthened.

 

The Senior General and party in­spected regional development along the Namkat Village-Anisakhan route in Ward 19 from Hsinlan Dam by car and gave instructions on continuous supervision for beautification of PyinOoLwin and sys­tematic land use.

 

The Senior General and party looked into the efforts to upgrade the three more feet height of the Sitha Dam. The Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation and officials conducted a Senior General round the site.

 

At Sitha Dam and Sitha Water Sup­porting Dam, Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conser­vation U Khin Maung Yi reported to the Senior General on the field inspection trip to examine the root causes of forest coverage in PyinOoLwin Township from 2015 to 2020, findings in scrutiny through the RS & GIS technology in addition to Google Earth and Landsat satellite pho­tos, nurturing of forests at the coverage decline area, raising the public awareness for forest coverage, formation of the forest reserves and protected public forests in the better coverage areas, and efforts to increase forest coverage in the vacant and fallow lands.

 

In his guidance, the Senior General said that efforts are being made to shape PyinOoLwin to be the cherry city and the flowery city. Pine trees must be planted to create a pleasant scene and to support the greening activities. Relevant organi­zations and local authorities have to con­serve the forest reserves and protected public forests in order to maintain the natural environment and water sources.

 

He added that it is necessary to consider the plans for water supply for the travellers. Endeavours for greening tasks to symbolize PyinOoLwin are be­ing carried out for the entire nation. The government will provide necessary assis­tance to ensure more forest coverage in PyinOoLwin Township.

 

The Senior General inspected the storage of water at the Sitha water sup­porting dam and gave necessary guidance to officials.

 

The Hsinlan diversion weir and Sitha diversion weir were built in accord with the guidance of the Head of State. The two-foot added spillway of the Hsinlan Dam can store 412 more acre-feet of wa­ter than 6.848 acre-feet in the past, with 112 more million gallons of water. The 18-inch diameter steel pipe can be used in supplying water to some 15,000 people of PyinOoLwin. Likewise, the three-foot higher spillway of Sitha Dam can store 267 acre-feet of water, with a volume of some 72 million gallons than in the past. So, it can supply water to some 10,000 people.

 

At Anisakhan Airport, Union Minister for Transport and Communications U Mya Tun Oo reported to the Senior General on the construction of the new apron and the airport lounge.

 

After hearing the report, the Senior General gave guidance that upgrading Anisakhan Airport aims to shape it as a focal point for the transport of travellers to Shan State and facilitate the travel city of PyinOoLwin for the smooth transport of travellers. Moreover, domestic products and crops from around the PyinOoLwin region can be transported to other regions swiftly. At the same time, motor roads must be upgraded with pedestrian ways on both sides to upgrade PyinOoLwin. – MNA/TTA