Development Works: MONREC Union Minister visits Rakhine State

Member of the National Disaster Management Committee, Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Khin Maung Yi, visited Rakhine State along with Deputy Minister U Htun Ohn.

They held a meeting with state, district, and township-level officials from departments and enterprises under the Ministry at the Rakhine State Forest Department on 2nd July.

During the meeting, officials presented reports on arriving of timber logs, distribution, rehabilitation tasks, the status of forests and mangrove forests in Rakhine State, repairs to the office building damaged by cyclonic Storm MOCHA, feasibility studies for replacing the collapsed trees, and plans for tree and mangrove forest growth in Sittwe.

The deputy minister further elaborated on the reports. Upon the reports, the Union Minister said it is a special duty for thriving of the trees since arrangements have been made to plant 204,200 trees in Rakhine State during monsoon.

As forest coverage areas in Rakhine State have declined, it is necessary to conserve the forests, trees and mangrove forests.

The Union Minister also stressed the need to plant suitable and resilient trees in order not to harm the urban construction, must be planted. He added that the ministry will pay special emphasis for rehabilitation works aftermath of the cyclone.

Then, the Union Minister provided cash assistance. The Union Minister and party later visited Saw Mill Nos.2, 1 and 3 respectively, and inspected the work processes. They also encouraged the staff and instructed the necessary.

Next, the Union Minister and party inspected the chosen site to plant the mangrove forest along the Sittwe beach. In the afternoon, they arrived at Nandawon Botanical Garden, and heard reports by the officials.

The Union Minister said it is necessary to plant the trees the grown in Rakhine State in line with the features of the garden and to reconstruct the garden systematically to be better than the previous ones.

Next, the Union Minister and party viewed the cleaning of fallen trees with both men and machine power. Afterwards, the Union minister and party met with officers and staff at the State Environmental Conservation department.

In meeting with the staff from Environmental Conservation Department, the Director of Department reported on the progress of works in 2023-24 FY, preparation for the Cyclonic Storm Mocha, damages and rehabilitation.

The Union Minister then fulfilled the requirements. Next, the Union Minister and party observed the progress of repair works and instructed the needs.