Dimawhso, 25 January
Ngwe Taung Dam, in Demawso Township, Kayah State, is experiencing low water yields and low rainfall during the rainy season, so only about 300 acres of farmland will be able to supply enough water this year.
Last year, the Ngwe Taung Dam irrigated more than 1,400 acres of summer paddy fields. This year, the water flow from Nant San Phue Hot Spring has declined, and the amount of water that can be stored is reduced due to less rainfall during the rainy season. Therefore, this year, only about 300 acres of summer paddy will be able to supply enough water,” said U Hla Thein, an officer from the Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department.
The water storage capacity of Ngwe Taung Dam has reached its lowest level in 20 years, and more than 1.2 gallons of drinking water is regularly distributed to the people of Dimawhso. Irrigation water will be provided to summer paddy fields from 1 February, he added.
Construction of the Ngwe Taung Dam was started in 1962 with the aim of irrigating more than 6,000 acres of farmland and was completed in 1965. The dam is an earthen dam with a length of 6,000 feet, a height of 35 feet, a reservoir capacity of 8920 acres, a reservoir capacity of 1,700 acres and a catchment area of 620 acres.
Dimawhso Township planted more than 3,000 acres of summer paddy last year, and this year it is planned to cultivate only about 800 acres of summer paddy due to low rainfall.
Yi Ral (Dimawhso)
Translated by Kyaw Htike Soe
