Thailand
Myanmar: Mandalay port to facilitate regional and Chinese trade via waterway
Developers of Mandalay port will begin the construction work in November 2018, according to the Directorate of Water Resources and Improvement of River (DWIR).
The port aims to facilitate trade along waterways, i.e. along the rivers, in Mandalay Region.
This project is backed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and is expected to cost US$38 million. Preliminary assessments of environmental impact and data collection on those who would be potentially affected are currently being carried out.
“Construction work will start in 2018,” said U Aung Myo Khine, deputy director of the DWIR on June 27. The DWIR is under the Ministry of Transport.
The project which aims to facilitate marine transport for both passengers and goods along the Ayeyarwady River will be implemented on 20 acres of land east of the circular road and Shwe Lone Bo Monastery, which is located one kilometre east of Mandalay.
Currently, the DWIR has been collecting data on those affected by the project and all the affected community will be given compensation after negotiations with the regional government.
“According to our survey, there are 70 land owners involved in the project area.
“We will compensate them in collaboration with the regional government. We will do all in accordance with the law,” said U Aung Myo Khine.
However, residents said they are still uncertain about how many of them would be paid for their lands which are being acquired for the implementation of the project. They are also unsure about what plans are being made for lands around the project site.
“About 12 acres of our land have been involved in the project. Some of lands have been disputed by companies and still are under dispute.
“We don’t have any intention to interrupt the government project, but our lives depend on the land. We are fine if we receive compensation … in accordance with the law,” said farmland owner Ko Tin Soe whose lands are involved.
The project will feature a yard to manage cargoes, which includes a containers yard, warehouses, a jetty, an access bridge, among other machinery and equipment relevant to cargoes management.
Mandalay is a transportation hub in the region and also has robust trade relations with China.
Through the city, goods are being transported to other towns by river but jetties have not been developed yet and cargoes are still managed by manual labour instead of machinery.
“The project has now begun its implementation because public polls are being conducted and surveys on how to provide compensation are also being carried out.
“Mandalay is in need of a modern port. The cargo-handling process has been done only with labour without the help of machinery – it makes the supply chain inefficient and is also highly dangerous.
“After the project is completed, two cargo ships can dock at the same time and the supply chain will develop,” said the regional DWIR director U Toe Aung Lin.
Source: http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/26602-mandalay-port-to-facilitate-regional-and-chinese-trade-via-waterway.html