Criticism of a photo showing a pickaxe being used to install a lightning rod on a Bagan pagoda is not true, according to the explanation by U Kyaw Myo Win, director of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture (Bagan Division).
After this photo of Shwesandaw pagoda in Bagan’s ancient cultural zone went viral on the social media, criticism escalated. These backlashes are not true because systematic care and supervision have been taken in installing lightning conductors on Bagan pagodas so as not to touch the ancient original floor, he explained.
“The electrical section of the high-rise buildings division under the Ministry of Construction has been installing lightning conductors on 11 Bagan pagodas. They have completed six and are still installing at the remaining five, including this Shwesandaw, and Pyathetgyi, Sulamani and Mahabodhi pagodas. Our Archaeological and National Museum Department has conducted Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) on all these 11 pagodas. Instructions based on HIAs have already been given, such as the route for big copper wires to carry electricity from the umbrella of the pagoda and the areas to be avoided. We have set strict routes for the installation. All these procedures have been followed for the previous six pagodas,” he said.
The floor where pickaxe digging was taking place in the photo circulating online is a modern structure, while it is in line with the restriction on the depth of digging for lightning conductors, he added.
“It was the construction department that dug to bury the lightning conductor. The Archaeological Department had already made assessment and chosen that route because this is a newly constructed floor in modern times. The aim is to protect the pagodas and pilgrims from lightning during the rainy season. After the conductor is installed, it will be buried and the modren-day floor will be restored to its original state,” said U Kyaw Myo Win in a knowledge-sharing post on his Facebook page.
MT/ZN
