Ecosystem Restoration: Nyaung U won Environmental Sustainable City Award

Nyaung U City in Central Myanmar won first prize for Environmental Sustainable City Award for its outstanding performance on environmental conservation.

The award-winning cities have been selected based on three categories, Clean Air, Clean Water and Clean Land. Nyaung U is a travel town due to the location of Bagan Ancient Archaeological Zone.

The official from Nyaung U City Development Committee explained their efforts for environmental conservation works.

Deputy Director, Nyaung U City Development Committee, Tin Myint said "Using of vehicles is abundance due to plenty of travellers. By using e-bikes, bicycle, pony carts and trishaws in the downtown area that provide for clean air to reduce the damage to the natural environment. For clean water, we distribute water to Nyaung U and Bagan from the Ayeyawaddy River through step by step filtration. Plans are underway to supply better quality water to the residents in cooperation with a Japanese Company. As for clean land, we implement a semi-aerobic landfill system. For this, we have to carry out the waste sorting system. By doing like that, our town got the achievement."

The awards were presented by Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing during the World Environment Day Commemoration Ceremony, held in Nay Pyi Taw on Saturday.

WaiMaw in Kachin State won second prize and Loikaw in Kayah State won third prize respectively for Environmental Sustainable City Award.

The annual Commemoration Ceremony was organized by Environmental Conservation Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation.

Deputy Director-General, Environmental Conservation Department, Min Maw said "We organized the commemoration ceremony annually. Development and environment are related, and environmental conservation is important. Water, wind and land directly have an effect on humans health and humans are part of the environment. We need to breathe clean air, drink clean water and with the foods that grow from the good land, we, humans, survive. Everybody has the responsibility to take care of our environment. So, we observe commemoration day across the country to inform this message."

World Environment Day is a platform for raising awareness on environmental issues such as marine pollution, human overpopulation, global warming, sustainable consumption and wildlife crime. The very first commemoration was held in 1974. This year's theme for World Environment Day is "Ecosystem Restoration".