Mekong-Lancang Cooperation: Monitoring and assessment of toxic organic containments

The final completion workshop on monitoring and assessment of toxic organic containments in Mekong river basin of Mynmar (MLC-Toxic) project took place on Wednesday in Nay Pyi Taw.

Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Khin Maung Yi addressed the workshop, calling for efforts to prevent smuggling of pesticides, POPs, a class of persistent organic chemicals that pollute the environment and importing fake pesticides and selling.

Research needs to be conducted to ensure safe and effective use to minimize risk to health and the environment. The conservation of the watershed areas of the Mekong River and its tributaries and the process of water quality analysis are very important not only for Myanmar but for all countries in the Mekong region also.

In particular, there is a need to analyze and identify the presence of pesticide residues and continuously monitor and research. The Union Minister also urged the countries in the Mekong region to continue knowledge sharing activities and cooperation although the project period has ended.

And, the Union Minister viewed posters showing implementation of 4 projects under the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund, heard reports and gave necessary instructions.