By MPA CJ023
Pale Entertainment reported, more than 2,700 acres of farmlands of 34 villages in Pale Township, Sagaing Region, were flooded, crops were damaged, and it was difficult to grow paddy rice.
Due to the heavy rains, the overpass of the North Yama Dam was damaged, and the main drain and branch drain were damaged, it is difficult to replant paddy rice.
“When it rained heavily, the main dam couldn’t handle the water, and the overpass over Yama Creek broke down. It will cost about 500 million kyats (5000 lakhs) to repair it. If it rains again, if the water from creek increases, the dam will break. In that case, the villages will also drown. I am worried because of the raining season. The crops will also be damaged by the water. The first rains will also fall. Soon it will be the season to plant rice. Due to this water, it is impossible to plant. It will take a lot of work to get the water out,” said Ko Aung San Phyo from Pale Entertainment.
It is reported that rice, beans, sesame, and chickpeas were damaged due to the flooding of the farmlands. Rice is 1.5 thousand kyats per basket, sesame is one hundred thousand kyats per basket, chickpeas 5.5 thousand kyats per basket, and green beans is 6 thousand kyats per basket. So, tens of thousands of Kyats were lost due to the flooding of the farmlands.
Crops were damaged due to the Mokha storm, and 17 roads and 23 bridges were damaged. We, our PaKaFa, led the way and sought donors to repair them, and the National Unity Government also helped. The local Pa-Ka-Fa, Pa-A-Fa, and battalions and troops in Pale Township are also repairing roads and bridges. Now some roads and bridges can be used again,” Pale Township Public Administration Organization – Humanity Officer said.
More than 1,000 acres of farmland in the western part of Pale Township rely on the main drain and branch drain, and are mainly cultivated for rain paddy rice.
It will cost around one billion kyats to repair the irrigation system for the right canal, left canal, and main canal. The right canal has 10 branches. The main canal has 10 branches. To plant rain paddy rice, 5 branches of the right canal and 3 branches of the main canal have to distribute the water. If so, the paddy rice can be planted. In terms of time, the preparation of the Flue(water supply canal) will be completed by November next year. It may take more than a year for it to be permanent. The ammunition is needed for the revolution, so if food is also needed, the situation may be bad. The revolution will be successful only if the food is enough,” said Sir Kyaw, in charge of CDM irrigation.
Residents said that if the water supply canals, that distribute the water from the North Yama Dam to the agricultural lands, are prepared in time, the water will flow well and the paddy rice will be planted on time.