The New Light of Myanmar (Sunday, 25 November, 2001)(1/2)

[Okkar66126@xxxxxxx]

The New Light of Myanmar (Sunday, 25 November, 2001)(1/2)
--------------------------------
1. Secretary-1 attends opening of Lagoonbyin Dam in
   Hlegu Township
2. - Secretary-1 receives member of House of Representatives
     of Japan
   - Secretary-1 attends cash donations presentation for
     all-round renovation of Shwephonepwint Pagoda in
     Pazundaung Township
3. Relics from Sri Lanka conveyed to Lawka Chantha Abhaya
   Labha Muni Image
4. Kathina robes offering ceremonies held
5. Minister inspects telephone exchanges
6. Minister for Mines inspects Bawsai Mine Project
7. Independence Day commemorative essay, poetry competitions
   held
8. Basic Management (Multiplier) Course No 3/2001 for USDA
   Executives concludes
9. 55th World Amateur Men's Bodybuilding Championships
   commence

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( 1 ) Government spent K 49,076.41 million on construction of 127 dams all
over the nation Secretary-1 attends opening of Lagoonbyin Dam in Hlegu
Township

Yangon, 24 Nov - Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, accompanied by member of the State Peace and Development
Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, ministers, the
Chief of Staff (Navy), the Chief of Staff (Air), deputy ministers, officials
of the State Peace and Development Council Office, heads of department and
officials, left here by helicopter this morning and arrived at Lagoonbyin Dam
in Hlegu Township, Yangon North District, Yangon Division, at 8.50 am. A
ceremony to open Lagoonbyin Dam constructed by the Irrigation Department
under the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation was held at the pandal near
the dam, and the Secretary-1 addressed the ceremony.

 The ceremony was attended by the Secretary-1 and party, division, district
and township authorities, departmental officials, the director-general of the
Irrigation Department, the employees of the Irrigation Department who took
part in the construction of Lagoon-byin Dam, members of the Union Solidarity
and Development Association, Red Cross and Maternal and Child Welfare
Association, teachers, students, band and pompom troupes, farmers of
townships in Yangon North District and Bago District and local people
exceeding 10,000.

 The Secretary-1 said that the State Peace and Development Council is
striving to enable the Union of Myanmar to stand shoulder to shoulder with
other nations, relying on the participation of the people. To achieve
sustainable development, infrastructures necessary for development such as
roads, bridges, dams and reservoirs play an important role. In addition, all
the national people are required to make efforts for the improvement of
national economy and their economic life by making the best use of these
infrastructures.

The Secretary-1 added that at the ceremony to commission into service
Anawrahta Bridge spanning the Ayeyawady River, Head of State Senior General
Than Shwe said that just as the government and all the national people aspire
to develop the State, so they wish to develop their regions as well.
Moreover, all the people have aspirations for the improvement of their lives.
In this regard, all are to work hard. The only passport to development is
hard work. Therefore, not only is the government to work hard, but all the
citizens and national people are also to do the same. In accord with the
guidance of the Head of State, the government is making all-out efforts for
the development of the State, and at the same time, creating favourable
conditions to enable the people to participate in the development tasks. The
government believes that only when the basic needs of all the people residing
the length and breadth of the Union Ñ food, shelter and clothing Ñ can be
fulfilled, will the economy of the State become stronger. Similarly, only
when all the regions of the Union develop equitably, the development of the
Union will be meaningful and sustainable. Therefore, the government has been
building infrastructures necessary for development all over the nation.
Considering the needs of each region, the government has spent a large sum of
money on irrigation facilities, roads and bridges. With respect to the
development of the agriculture sector, it is important that the rich natural
resources of Myanmar are to be exploited with the use of modern technology.

Various ways and means are being employed in reclaiming fallow and virgin
lands, turning wetlands into cultivable lands and switching single cropping
to triple cropping. Therefore, the government has been building irrigation
facilities which can supply water all the year round, floodgates which can
control floods and embankments which can prevent sea water. In the time of
the present government, altogether 127 dams including Lagoonbyin which is
opened today, have been built all over the nation. A total of K 49,076.41
million has been spent on 127 dams, and these dams can irrigate over 1
million acres of land or nearly two million acres, to be exact, 1,775,769
acres.

 Lagoonbyin Dam was built at a cost of K 1,107.68 million and will be able to
irrigate 22,000 acres of fields all the year round. The significant fact
about Lagoonbyin Dam is that the 22,000 acres which can be irrigated by the
dam include 12,000 acres in Hlegu Township, Yangon Division, and 10,000 acres
in Bago Township, and the dam can prevent about 9,000 acres of land between
Yangon-Bago Highway and the railway in Hlegu and Bago Townships from being
flooded. Not only can Lagoonbyin Dam help develop the agriculture sector in
the region where the two divisions meet, but it can also contribute to food
supply for the people in Yangon. Yangon City, being the capital of the
nation, is densely populated, and there is no sufficient agricultural
production work. Previously, rice, meat, fish and vegetables were transported
from other regions to Yangon. Therefore, Head of State Senior General Than
Shwe has given guidance that measures are to be taken to ensure that tasks
related to food production are thriving around the capital. In accord with
the guidance of the Head of State, food production work is being carried out
in such regions surrounding Yangon as Uto-Kya-in region in Taikkyi Township
and Nyaunghnapin region in Hmawby Township, and tax-free markets have also
been set up in Yangon so that food produced from these regions can be sold
direct to the people at reasonable prices. Due to benefits which can be
gained from Lagoonbyin Dam, more food can be supplied to the people in
Yangon, and farmers will be able to do more agriculture work, and their
standards of living will improve as well.

 The Secretary-1 called on local farmers to strive for the improvement of
their standards of living by effectively utilizing the benefits accruing from
agricultural work and carrying out other business including livestock
breeding and cottage industries. When their economic conditions improve, they
are required to work for the education and health development of the region.
The Secretary-1 urged local people to cooperate with the officials who are
implementing the task of ensuring that school-age children complete their
basic education, which is included in the rural development tasks being
carried out by the government. In conclusion, the Secretary-1 called on all
to maintain and safeguard Lagoonbyin Dam, to work in unity for the
development of rural areas and improvement of their living standards and to
carry out agricultural work with might and main with the aim of producing
sufficient food not only for the State and but also for those in the world
who are suffering hunger.

 Then, member of the State Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon
Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than said: In accord with the guidance of the Head
of State, Yangon Division is striving for meeting the targeted cultivation of
1.2 million acres of monsoon paddy and 300,000 acres of summer paddy this
year. During this year's rainy season, out of targeted 1.17 million acres of
monsoon paddy 1,175,526 acres had been cultivated. Thus, 5,526 acres more had
been grown. As for summer paddy, 267,500 acres is targeted for this year.

Actual sown acreage for last year was 212,904. So, 63,596 acres more will be
grown this year. Increase in monsoon paddy sown acreage plays a key role in
meeting the targeted cultivation of paddy in Yangon Division1.2 million acres
of monsoon paddy and 300,000 acres of summer paddy. Boosting of monsoon paddy
sown acreage will help increase summer paddy sown acreage.

The opening of Lagoon-byin dam today will produce the following benefits for
Yangon Division: about 8,000 monsoon paddy in the environs of Lagoonbyin
creek will be prevented from flooding; about 2,000 acres of
late-monsoon-paddy will be grown. Summer paddy cultivation in the environs of
Lagoonbyin creek will increase from existing 3,000 acres to 5,000 acres.
About 10,000 acres more will emerge because 8,000 acres can be prevented from
flooding and 2,000 acres can be grown as late-monsoon paddy.

Moreover, the new dam will benefit about 12,000 acres in Bago Division.
Hence, it will benefit a total of 22,000 acres. At present in Yangon
Division, a total of six dams have been constructed and commissioned into
service. They are Tabu dam in Taikkyi Township, Banbwegon dam in Kyauktan
Township, Zamani dam in Thanlyin Township, Ngamoeyeik and Taunglon-pyaung
dams in Hlegu Township and Lagoonbyin dam opened today. As a result of
construction of the dams, sown acreage has increased year after year.

Living standard of farmers will become higher as they can earn more from
increased cultivation of monsoon and summer paddy and other crops. On behalf
of local people and farmers, the commander thanked the Head of State and
Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation for emergence of Lagoonbyin dam which
will contribute to progress in agriculture work in Yangon Division. He urged
local authorities and farmers to help maintain the dam built by the
government at a cost of large amount of money.

Then, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin said: the
government is making endeavours for infractural development for the
socio-economic progress of rural people and farmers in a short period. These
are the outcome of the far-sighted guidance of Head of State Senior-General
Than Shwe and his goodwill towards the rural people. Local people have
already experienced less success in paddy cultivation in the areas between
the motor road and rail road in Bago and Hlegu Townships due to flooding over
thousands of acres since the area gets annual rainfall of about 100 inches.
The dam project has been implemented in accord with the guidance of the Head
of State so that about 9,000 acres can be prevented from flooding, about
22,000 acres of monsoon paddy can be grown successfully through irrigation
and double cropping of over 10,000 acres can be carried out. Myanmar used to
be one of the major rice exporting countries at one time.

There now exist a lot of favourable conditions for export of rice. Therefore,
efforts are being made to achieve sufficiency of domestic consumption for a
population to be increased from existing 50 million and produce a surplus. In
this regard, endeavours are being made for cultivation of over 17 million
acres of monsoon and summer paddy to produce over 1,350 million baskets of
rice during the five-year plan. Arrangements have been made for export of
quality rice and achieving surplus in regional requirements of rice. He said
efforts are being made to cultivate 8.6 million acres of beans and pulses and
also to become a leading beans and pulses producing country in South East
Asia region.

 At the same time, measures are being taken for cultivation of 7.7 million
acres of oil crops such as groundnut, sesamum and sunflower for local edible
oil sufficiency, he said. The minister called for cultivation of perennial
crops, oil palm and Thitseint plant (Terminalia belerica), one million acres
of marketable cotton, 0.14 million acres of jute and 18,000 acres of kenaf
during the third short-term five-year plan after formation of special zones.
He said Yangon Division is making efforts for increasing crop cultivation in
the agricultural production sector of the country. The Ministry of
Agriculture and Irrigation is also implementing 11 dams and sluice gate
projects including Lagoonbyin Dam in Yangon Division, four water-pumping
projects and other agro-based industries, he added.

He urged farmers to boost agricultural production. The Lagoonbyin Dam, 5,180
feet long and 61 feet high can store 148,800 acre feet of water. Construction
of the dam started in 2000-2001 for supply of water to 22,000 acres of
farmlands 12,000 in Hlegu Township and 10,000 in Bago Township. The commander
thanked regional authorities and service personnel of Irrigation Department
for their accomplishment within two years. On behalf of local people,
Secretary of Hlegu Township USDA U Kyi Aung thanked the government for
construction of the dam. Next, the Secretary-1 presented prizes for those who
participated in construction of the dam to Director U Kyaw Thein of Yangon
Division Irrigation Department and Director U Baw Htin of Mechanical
(Division-1) of Irrigation Department.

 The Secretary-1 then formally unveiled the stone inscriptions of the dam.
Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than and Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation
Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin formally opened the dam. The Secretary-1 and party had
photos taken together with local people in front of the archway of the dam.
The Secretary-1 greeted local people and inspected the tower, the main dam
and the spillways. The Secretary-1 and party went to the site of Alaini Dam
in Bago Township. Director-General of Irrigation Department U Kyaw San Win
and officials reported on construction of 5,700 feet long earth dam.

The Secretary-1 then gave instructions. They proceeded to the briefing hall
of Lagoonbyin Dam. Minister Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin, Director-General U Kyaw San
Win and officials reported on work done for construction of the Lagoon-byin
Dam, data of the Alaini Dam project, progress of work and tasks for the two
dams. The Secretary-1 gave instructions. The earth Lagoonbyin Dam was built
on Lagoon-byin creek near Thameegalay Village at the border of Hlegu Township
and Bago Township. It is 5,180 feet long and 61 feet high and it can benefit
22,000 acres of farmland. The Secretary-1 and party arrived back here at 11
am.
___________________________

( 2 ) Secretary-1 receives member of House of Representatives of Japan

Yangon, 24 Nov- Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen
Khin Nyunt received Member of House of Representatives of Japan Mr Motohisa
Furukawa, who is currently here, and members at the guest house of the
Ministry of Defence at 3 pm today. Present on the occasion together with the
Secretary-1 were Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung, Deputy Minister U
Khin Maung Win and Director-General of Protocol Department Thura U Aung Htet.

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Secretary-1 attends cash donations presentation for all-round renovation of
Shwephonepwint Pagoda in Pazundaung Township

 Yangon, 24 Nov - The third cash donations presentation ceremony for the
second all-round renovation of the Shwephonepwint Pagoda and religious
buildings in Pazundaung Township was held at the pagoda at 4.30 pm today.
Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt
attended the ceremony, gave instructions on all-round renovation of the
pagoda and the religious buildings and accepted the cash donations.

Also present were ministers, Chairman of Leading Committee for the Second
All-round Renovation of the Pagoda and the religious buildings Deputy
Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan, the Vice-Mayor, officials of the
State Peace and Development Council Office, departmental heads, officials of
committees, wellwishers and guests. Before the ceremony, the Secretary-1 and
party paid reverence to the pagoda. The ceremony was opened with three-time
recitation of Namo Tassa. The chairman and officials reported on the tasks
being carried out for renovation of the pagoda and the buildings, raising of
funds, and future tasks with the use of charts.

The Secretary-1 gave instructions. The joint-venture corporations under the
Ministry of Commerce presented K 1.25 million for the pagoda and the
buildings; Deputy Minister for Hotels and Tourism Brig-Gen Aye Myint Kyu and
wife Daw Khin Swe Myint, brothers and sisters and families K 500,000;
Brig-Gen Khin Aung Myint of the Ministry of Defence and wife Daw Khin Pyone
and family K 150,000; U Maung Weik (Maung Weik's Family Co) K 1.5 million; U
Nyi Nyi Kyaw-Daw Lwin Hnin Hnin of Hnin Wun Co K 1.5 million; U Ye Ni-Daw
Zabei Shein and family of Pazundaung Township K 540,000; U Sein Myint-Daw San
Kyu K 500,000; U Thein Oo-Daw Khin Khin Sein of Thitsar Pankhin Co K 500,000;
and U Aung Maw Thein of Win & Sons Co K 500,000 to the Secretary-1. Then,
Minister for Religious Affairs U Aung Khin accepted K 400,000 donated by U
Khin Maung San-Daw Thazin Nwe of Miba Kyezu Co; K 150,000 by Director-General
of the Border Trade Department U Nay Win and wife; K 300,000 by U Maung
Lwan-Daw San Kyu and family of Pyay Road; K 236,200 by U Hla Min of Golden
Hawks Co; K 217,800 by U Aung Naing-Daw Nu Nu Khin and family of U Shwegun
Street; K 180,000 by Daw Yee, daughter Ma Nyo and Ma Su Hlaing Hnin of 51st
Street; K 150,000 by U Saw Hlaing-Daw Nyo Thin and family of Hla Gabar
Furniture House; K 150,000 by Thiri Thu-dhamma Manizawtadara U Than Tun-Daw
Aye Myint and family of Shwepin Ngwepin Furniture House; K 150,000 by U Aung
Kyaw Oo-Daw Theingi Htwe; K 120,000 by Daw Kyin Aye and sisters of Hninpan
Street; K 120,000 by U Maung Aw-Daw Khin May Lwin and family of Bogyoke
Street; K 120,000 by U Chit Maung-Daw Than Than Htay and family of Thein Than
Htay Jewellery Shop; and K 120,000 by U Chit Ko Ko-Daw Than Than and family
of Yaygyaw Street. After the ceremony, the Secretary-1 inspected progress of
renovation of the pagoda and the buildings, and left necessary instructions
to the officials concerned.
___________________________

( 3 )  Relics from Sri Lanka conveyed to Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni
Image

Yangon, 24 Nov- Relics from Sri Lanka were conveyed from Yangon International
Airport to Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Image on Mindhamma Hill in Insein
Township this morning. They will be enshrined at the pagoda. A ceremony to
hand over the relics from Sri Lanka was held at Gandhakuti Kyaung-dawgyi on
Mindhamma Hill. Present were Minister for Religious Affairs U Aung Khin,
Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Thura Aung Ko, Adviser at the State Peace and
Development Council U Arnt Maung, leader of relics conveying team to Myanmar
Mr Nerajan Wijeyratne and members, Ambassador of Sri Lanka Mr Ubhayasekara
Mapa, officials, members of the committee for construction of Lawka Chantha
Abhaya Labha Muni Image, members of Image Board of Trustees members of the
Union Solida-rity and Development Association and wut associations.

 The Ambassador of Sri Lanka said Sri Lanka and Myanmar are Buddhist
countries and have maintained friendly relations for centuries. In the 11th
century during the time of King Anawrahta, Sri Lankan King Vijeyabahu sent
Tri Pitakas to Myanmar to promote and propagate Theravada Buddhism in the
country. He said the relics from Sri Lanka were conveyed to Myanmar before
the consecration of Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Image which was under
construction under close supervision of the Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.

The relics were donated by Ven Galaboda Gmanissara of Gangaramaya Temple, he
noted. Minister U Aung Khin expressed thanks. Mr Nerajan Wijeyratne handed
over the relics to Minister U Aung Khin. Patron of the Pagoda Board of
Trustees U Shein Aung Bo offered flowers, water and fruits to the relics.
__________________________

( 4 )   Kathina robes offering ceremonies held

 Yangon, 24 Nov - The 11th communal Kathina robes offering ceremony of the
staff families of the State Peace and Development Council Office, the Pyithu
Hluttaw Office and the President's Office was held at Aletawya Sanpya
Parriyatti Sarthintaik on Dhammazedi Road in Bahan Township this morning.
Present on the occasion were member of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee
Pakokku Mahawithu-tayama Kyaung-taik Saya-daw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta
Visara, Bahan Township Aletawya Sanpya Parriyatti Sarthintaik Saya-daw Agga
Maha Ganthavacaka Pandita Bhaddanta Gandhamala Bhivamsa and members of the
Sangha, nuns, Minister for Religious Affairs U Aung Khin, Secretary of
Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission U Aye Maung, Deputy Minister
at the State Peace and Development Council ChairmanÕs Office U Hset Maung,
Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Aung Ko, Deputy
Auditor-General U Khin Win, Director-General of the State Peace and
Development Council Office Lt-Col Pe Nyein, the director-general of the Civil
Service Selection and Training Board, officials, staff families and guests.

 The congregation received the Five precepts from Sayadaw Bhaddanta
Ganndhamala Bhivamsa. Director-General Lt-Col Pe Nyein and the congregation
presented the Kathina robes and offertories to the Sayadaws and the members
of the Sangha. Similarly, under the patronage of Minister for Industry-2
Maj-Gen Saw Lwin and wife Daw Moe Moe Myint, the fifth communal Kathina robes
offering ceremony of staff families of the Ministry of Industry-2 was held at
the meeting hall of the Ministry this morning, attended by Presiding Saya-daw
of Aungpan Kyaungtaik in Bahan Township Bhad-danta Sasana and the members of
the Sangha, Minister Maj-Gen Saw Lwin and wife, wife of Deputy Minister
Brig-Gen Aung Thein Lin, Deputy Minister Lt-Col Khin Maung Kyaw and wife, the
directors-general, managing directors, staff families and guests.

 The congregation were invested with the Nine Precepts by Sayadaw Bhad-danta
Sasana. The Sayadaw and the members of the Sangha were presented Kathina
robes and offertories. Similarly, the 10th communal Kathina of the Ministry
of Rail Transportation was held at the hall of the ministry this morning.
Present were Presiding Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita U Eindaka of Dhammi-kayon
(Pali Takkatho) on Theinbyu Road, Yangon, and the members of the Sangha,
Minister for Rail Transportation U Pan Aung and wife Daw Nyunt Nyunt Lwin,
Deputy Minister Thura U Thaung Lwin and wife, Deputy Minister U Pe Than and
wife, advisers, directors-general, managing directors and departmental
officials under the ministry, guests and staff families.

 The congregation received the Five Precepts from the Sayadaw, and the
members of the Sangha recited the parittas. Then, the congregation presented
Kathina robes and 36 Padethabins to the Sayadaw and the members of the
Sangha. Similarly, Buddhist Association of Courts held its 52th communal
Kathina robes offering ceremony at the Dhammayon of the association in Bahan
Township this morning, attended by Sayadaw Bhaddanta Janita of Bahan Township
Sukha Parriyatti Sarthintaik and members of the Sangha, Chief Justice U Aung
Toe and wife Daw Aye Kyi, Deputy Chief Justice U Than Oo and wife, officials
and staff familes of courts in Yangon.

 The Chief Justice, deputy chief justice and the congregation presented
Kathina robes and provisions to Sayadaw and members of the Sangha. Likewise,
Buddhist Association of Law Offices held the 15th communal Kathina robes
offering ceremony at Dhammayon of Attorney-General's Office this morning.
Attorney- General U Tha Tun and wife Daw Hteik Tin Nyunt presented Kathina
robes and offertories to Maharazi-kayon Kyaungtaik Taik- oak Sayadaw
Bhaddanta Dhammapiya.

The wife of the deputy attorney-general and wellwishers presented Kathina
robes and offertories to the members of the Sangha. Then, Attorney- General U
Tha Tun accepted cash donations for the extension of Dham-mayon of the
Attorney-General's Office. Later, " soon " was offered to the members of the
Sangha. Likewise, the Kathina robes offering ceremony of Myanma Agriculture
Produce Trading was held at Sagaing Sarthintaik on Thanthuma Road, Yangon,
this morning, attended by member of the Central Working Committee of the
Sangha Sagaing Sarthintaik Presiding Nayaka Sayadaw Agga Maha Ganthavacaka
Pandita Bhaddanta Dham-mananda and member of the Sangha, Deputy Ministe for
Commerce Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan, advisers departmental officials under the
ministry and staff families. The deputy minister and the congregation
presented Kathina robes and offertories to the Sayadaw and members of the
Sangha.

Later, Managing Director U Min Hla Aung donated rice, edible oil, salt and
pulse and beans. The presiding Sayadaw delivered a sermon, followed by
sharing merits gained. Similarly, Under the supervision of the Yangon South
District and Thanlyin Township Peace and Development Councils, the first
communal Kathina robes offering ceremony of the whole township was held at
Shin Sawpu Hall in Thanlyin this morning. Chairman of District Peace and
Development Council Lt-Col Sein Hlaing and officials presented Kathina robes
and offertories to member of the Central Working Committee of the Sangha
Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Eindacara and members of the Sangha.
__________________________

( 5 ) Minister inspects telephone exchanges

Yangon, 24 Nov - Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig-Gen
Thein Zaw arrived at Wailuwun station this morning. Chief engineer reported
on extension and testing of CDMA phone system. The minister inspected
installation of CDMA equipment and gave instructions. Then, the minister
proceeded to Hanthawady auto-exchange station.

Chief engineer of Yangon auto telephone reported on installation of new S-12
digital auto-exchange equipment and communication of phone lines by the map
of exchange area. The minister inspected installation of S-12 digital
auto-exchange equipment and transmission equipment at the control room.
Afterwards, the minister proceeded to Shwe-gondine station. Officials of
Myanma Posts and Telecommunications reported on condition of overseas phone
communications, public-phone services and phone installation at the
respective exchange stations in Yangon and mobile phone system. The minister
left necessary instructions.
___________________________

to be continued ...