Phyo/ Pearl  (NSS) - Sep  17

Businessmen have suggested through The Statesman that the Kyaukphyu SEZ should start by building a freshwater reservoir as an initial project.

Two freshwater reservoirs will be built on Maday Island in Kyaukphyu Township, Rakhine State for use in the Kyaukphyu Deep Sea Port Project, and the necessary funds and contractors are ready.

“On the Myanmar side, a project that can be readily initiated for the SEZ is the construction of a freshwater reservoir on Maday Island. The first process of building such a reservoir involves acquiring land for the reservoir area by the state. This means land will be appropriated and compensation must be paid. All the arrangements have already been made, and locals have agreed to the compensation amount. The government's funds are ready. The contractors are also prepared. So, the only thing left to do is to begin. Once land compensations are paid, the locals will be satisfied, and the government can immediately start. Therefore, the freshwater reservoir should be implemented as the first project of the SEZ. This should be carried out with priority and urgency. There are no obstacles to beginning this work. Since the area is under military control, there is no danger. The land compensation amount may not be significant; the payment rate has already been set, and the approved funds are available. What remains now is simply for the government to authorize the disbursement of compensation and approve the start of the reservoir construction,” a businessperson told The Statesman journal.

He also suggested that the SEZ start construction of the freshwater reservoir as the initial project, provided that land compensation has been paid to the relevant landowners, as the rates for land compensation have already been agreed with the locals.

In addition, during the recent visit of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission, to China, he met with the Chinese President and discussed the Kyaukphyu Deep Sea Port Project, the new railway construction project, the Mandalay-Kyaukphyu Railway Project, and other projects being jointly implemented by the two countries.