Inspection of damaged weir: SAC VC inspected damaged Hsin Thay diversion weir

On March 28, due to the Mandalay earthquake, the Hsin Thay diversion weir near Dahat Kone village in Tatkone Township, Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, suffered damage.

On April 14, the Chairman of National Disaster Management Committee, Vice Chairman of State Administration Council, Deputy Prime Minister Vice Senior General Soe Win, along with Union Ministers, the Chairman of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, Commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command, and officials, inspected the damage and ongoing repairs.

At a temporary briefing hall at the Hsin Thay diversion weir, Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation U Min Naung and responsible officials explained the situation. They reported that due to the Mandalay earthquake, the main water distribution channel and the wing walls of the diversion weir had collapsed.

The Department of Water Resources and Irrigation Management undertook repairs and managed to resume water supply by April 8. However, subsequent tremors on April 12 at 3 AM caused a blowout beneath the diversion weir’s retaining wall, leading to uncontrolled water discharge into the Hsin Thay Creek.

This temporarily halted water supply to over 10,000 acres of summer paddy and other crops. Efforts are now underway to temporarily seal the breach with earthen embankments. In response to the briefing, Vice Senior General Soe Win instructed the necessary coordination to ensure water is quickly restored to the affected farmlands.

After that, the SAC Vice Chairman, Deputy Prime Minister, and officials observed the water loss through the damaged diversion weir and ongoing temporary repairs. They also inspected the use of machinery to expedite water distribution through the left and right canals to the irrigation-dependent farmlands, issuing further directives as needed.