Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing inspects preservation of National Kandawgyi Garden and Governor House in PyinOoLwin
NAY PYI TAW April 18
Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing,accompanied by SAC member Admiral Tin Aung San, Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, Union ministers U Tin Htut Oo, U Khin Maung Yi, Mandalay Region Chief Minister U Maung Ko, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, Central Command Commander Maj-Gen Ko Ko Oo and officials, inspected preservation of National Kandawgyi Garden and Governor House in PyinOoLwin this morning.
Salient points of Kandawgyi
On arrival at the Kandawgyi, the Senior General and party were welcomed by officials. At the briefing hall, the directors general of Forest Department and Irrigation Department reported on salient points of Kandawgyi, dwindling of water sources and drying of lakes due to forest depletion, drying natural springs, rising temperatures, weakening water inlets, and many other causes,renovation and conservation of water sources in accord with the SAC’s instructions, revival of water inlets due to conservation undertakings and constant beautifying activities.
Modernization of the garden and maintenance of its reputation
In response, the Senior General said Kandawgyi is a landmark of PyinOoLwin, so its preservation must be programmed. Being a national garden, not only the park, but also other activities that may attract visitors must be developed and conserved.
Local authorities and relevant ministries must revive and maintain water sources through coordination. The entire 436 acres of the garden must be preserved. The area received less rainfall during the period between 2019 and 2020. According to the weather forecast, rain will increase in 2022. Rising fuel wood consumption and charcoal production are the main causes of forest depletion in PyinOoLwin, once covered with thick forests. The Tatmadaw government set up large areas of coffee plantations together with shade trees in PyinOoLwin. But the project did not achieve 100 percent success due to the absence of systematic plantation methods. Moreover, the closed fencing system obstructed water inflow.
PyinOoLwin area greening and water sources conservation should not be a superficial work. It must be carried out in all seriousness. PyinOoLwin is being turned into a real hill resort cherry city and flower city. Hence Kandawgyi must be systematically beautified.
Arrangements must be made for local and foreign tourists to visit the garden as COVID-19 can be controlled to a certain degree. So, the garden must meet the required standard. Its reputation must be preserved.
The company that is running the garden must strive to ensure cleanliness, beautifulness and pleasantness of the garden through government coordination.
The Senior General and party inspected the garden in a motorcade and instructed officials to take the advice of experts in improving watershed areas, water inlets and outlets, air quality and pleasantness.
They also looked into the requirements in building a sluicegate of Kandawlay Lake.
During his visit to PyinOoLwin in September and December 2021, the Senior General gave instructions for protecting the watershed areas, increasing the volume of water inlets and inspected the springs including Nyaungni spring. As work has been done in accord with the instructions, the depth of the lake increased from 16 feet to 20 feet. On 17 April, the water level of lake 1 was 0.5 foot above the top level, lake 2 was filled to its brim, lake 3 was 2.6 feet below its highest level, and lake 4 was 12 feet below its highest level. The preservation work is in progress.
The Senior General and party then looked around the surrounding areas of GovernorHouse and gave guidelines for systematic eye-catching programs.