MoALI discusses drinking water supply in water-scarce villages in summer

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation held the meeting on drinking water supply in water-scarce villages in summer yesterday morning in accordance with the health guidelines in Nay Pyi Taw.
At the meeting, Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Tin Htut Oo said the current availability of drinking water in Myanmar is over 77% at present. However, due to climate change, the low amount of rainfall, depletion of water in lakes due to rising temperature, summer water scarcity may continue. He discussed plans for short-term and long-term activities and issues that need to be addressed immediately and planned to use the solar system in distributing waters in regions and states.
Director-General for Rural Development Department U Khant Zaw discussed the summer water scarcity conditions, short-term and medium-term plans to provide water if there is a water shortage, the completion status of regional development work being implemented in the current FY. Director-General for Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department U Bo Bo Kyaw discussed cooperation plans in activities for drinking water supply in summer water-scarce villages.
Deputy Minister Dr Aung Gyi said the problem of drought, which used to be confined to hot and dry areas, in now being experienced across the country, including in the highlands due to climate change, and it is necessary to cooperate not only with one department but also relevant departments including non-governmental organizations in order to solve this problem successfully.
The Department of Rural Development (DRD) uses the Rural Water Supply – Management Information System (RWS-MIS) to capture current water use and operational status in villages digitally.
Last summer, 394 villages were expected to face water shortages. In practice, water was distributed to 347 villages in a timely manner. It is estimated that there will be about 300 summer water scarcity villages this year, and information has been collected in advance and connected to villages by mobile phone. During the current fiscal year, 1,981 rural water supply projects will be implemented, benefiting about 1.4 million people in 1,932 villages.—MNA