State Administration Council Member Deputy Prime Minister Union Minister for Defence Admiral Tin Aung San attended and addressed the Cultural Heritage Preservation Steering Committee meeting 1/2024 held yesterday morning at the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture in Nay Pyi Taw.
The meeting was also attended via teleconferencing by U Tin Oo Lwin, Vice-Chair of the Committee and Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture, Union ministers, advisory personnel, deputy ministers, senior departmental officers, local archaeologists, officers from the National Museum Department, and the chief ministers of Magway Region and Mandalay Region.
During the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that the Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Administration Council had directed, during his visit to the Bagan Cultural Heritage Site on 25-26 May 2024, that the following measures be prioritized: ensuring the sustainability of dam preservation and construction, implementing step-by-step quality control for dams, preventing blockages in water reservoirs and their surrounding areas, and ensuring proper water flow in low-lying areas.
Admiral Tin Aung San also emphasized the importance of conducting Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) and adhering to them during development projects in cultural heritage zones. He mentioned that re-excavation of lakes and pools within these zones is underway to ensure good water flow. Of the 106 lakes recorded based on stone inscriptions, 91 are scheduled for repair to remove sand sediments and improve water flow. Efforts are being made to collaborate between departments and the regional government to implement these projects without impacting heritage sites.
China is assisting with the preservation of the Thatbyinnyu Pagoda, and Myanmar has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with India’s Archaeological Survey for the conservation of 92 ancient pagodas and stupas over a ten-year period from 2018 to 2028.
The steering committee is tasked with supervising and maintaining the Ancient Bagan Cultural Heritage Site. A comprehensive surveillance system with full-time monitoring and CCTV is required to protect the site from both natural and man-made disasters. Admiral Tin Aung San also urged the need for detailed records of individual pagodas and stupas to facilitate reconstruction and repairs in case of damage.
Additionally, the Senior General has directed improvements to roads and transportation within the Bagan area to facilitate local and international tourism, given its status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Roads connecting villages surrounding Bagan and the entrance to Bagan are to be upgraded by the relevant authorities and regional government.
Union Minister U Tin Oo Lwin discussed the progress of repairing ancient pagodas, stupas, temples, and religious buildings damaged by recent earthquakes, as well as the re-excavation of 91 ancient lakes. He also reported on the systematic management of funds and expenditures.
Other committee members, including union ministers, chief ministers from Magway Region and Mandalay Region, and deputy ministers, also discussed the maintenance of the Ancient Bagan Cultural Heritage Site. Deputy Minister Daw Nu Mra Zan, the committee secretary, presented updates on the resolutions from the previous meeting. Attendees also discussed ongoing and future projects for maintaining the Ancient Bagan Cultural Heritage Zone. — MNA/TMT
