18 May
At the seventh-day meeting of the Second Amyotha Hluttaw’s 12th regular session held yesterday morning Hluttaw approved a motion urging the Union Government to draw up laws, rules and directives to take precautionary measures in an attempt to protect the natural environment, resources and interests of coastal states and regions from possible heavy oil pollution of giant crude oil tankers delivering crude oil to the pipeline at Made Island, Rakhine State.
In the earlier question and answer session, questions raised by 8 Hluttaw representatives were answered by Deputy Minister for Commerce U Aung Htoo, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Hla Kyaw and Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance U Maung Maung Win.
Question and Answer session
In the question and answer session, a question raised by Daw Ma Ma Lay of Shan State constituency 8 on a plan to connect farmers planting organic plants in Shan State south Pindaya and Ywangan townships with local and international market was answered by Deputy Minister for Commerce U Aung Htoo.
U Kyaw Kyaw of Rakhine State constituency 4, U Kyaw Tote of Mandalay Region constituency 7 and U Mya Min Swe of Magway Region constituency 9 raised questions relating to embankment and reservoir were answered by Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Hla Kyaw.
Questions by U Ngun Hay of Chin State constituency 1, U Tun Tun Oo of Mandalay Region constituency 2, U Whey Tin of Chin State constituency 11 and U Soe Thein of Kayah State constituency 9 on using President’s emergency fund for preventing erosion of rive banks caused by river flows during rainy season, educating the people about records kept by Irrigation and Water Utilisation Management Department in National Archive, opening of a township Internal Revenue Department office and resource sharing plan for locals of income obtained from Baluchaung hydroelectric power station were answered by Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance U Maung Maung Win.
Motion on preventing oil pollution discussed, responded to and decided
In the final agenda of the day a motion tabled by U Maung Maung Ohn of Ayeyawady Region constituency 5 urging the Union Government to draw up laws, rules and directives to take precautionary measures in an attempt to protect the natural environment, resources and interests of coastal states and regions from possible heavy oil pollution of giant crude oil tankers transporting crude oil to the pipeline at Made Island, Rakhine State was discussed by six Hluttaw representatives.
U Hsan Myint of Ayeyawady Region constituency 3, U Khin Myo Win of Taninthayi Region constituency 12, U Htay Oo of Yangon Region constituency 2, U Myo Win of Mon State constituency 8, Tatmadaw representative Maj Tin Htut and U Sa Khin Zaw Lin of Ayeyawady Region constituency 2 discussed the motion.
In his discussion, Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Dr. Ye Myint Swe said Ministry of Transport and Communications was following international norms of ISGOTT and BUNKER 2001 in addition to Myanmar Port Authority Law and rules. Once the National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution was submitted and approved, the plan will be implemented, said the Deputy Minister.
Ministry of Electricity and Energy was also making arrangement to prevent oil tankers, oil and gas works from effecting the country’s natural resources and environment. And if there were any mishaps, cooperation with relevant organizations and entities were established to minimize the damage and to obtain compensation for damages caused.
Ministry for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation will also conduct environmental impact assessments according to environmental conservation law and rules.
As the motion was tabled to protect damage to natural environment and eco-system, protect the socio-economy of the ethnic nationals and the people, the motion should be approved but note must be taken that the work processes was wide in scope and had to be worked out by relevant government entities, ministerial departments, Hluttaw representatives, local and international experts and would require a lot of time explained the Deputy Minister.
Next, Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than obtained the decision of the Hluttaw and announced the motion being approved by the Hluttaw.
The eighth-day meeting of the Second Amyotha Hluttaw’s 12th regular session will be held on 21 May it is learnt. — Aung Ye Thwin (MNA) (Translated by Zaw Min)
