President announces K. 140 billion infrastructure plan for Kachin State President U Thein Sein announced that the government will allocate K 140 billion (USD145 million) to upgrade roads in Kachin State, while on a tour of Kachin State on Tuesday. Kachin State’s roads are notorious for being poorly maintained and the northern most state possesses the worst roads in the world and even Hpakant, known as “the land of jade,” is riddled with bumpy roads. The president said that after achieving peace, safer transportation is the most important thing for Kachin State, followed by improving the education and health sectors. The Myitkyina-Sumprabun-Putao road will be upgraded into all-season tarred road, with financial assistance amounting to USD 120 million from India. Putao airport’s runway will also be extended by 8,500 feet to allow jets to land there. The president said that the government is turning its attention to the development of Kachin State, as it lags far behind most other provinces in Myanmar. The president said that Putao has huge potential to witness a boom in ecotourism, stressing the important role transport will play in facilitating it. However some have called the president’s announcement into question, and have highlighted that tycoon U Tay Za has already announced large scale plans for the region, including spending USD 5 million on providing Putao residents with electricity. “I’m glad that the head of state has visited a place like Putao. But, for whose interests he has come is in question,” said Dr Jerry, the priest of Putao Church and a secretary of the Lisu National Development Party. “A tycoon is already known to be expanding his business here and that this will bring both advantages and disadvantages to the region,” he added. Putao Valley is located in northernmost Myanmar and lies at an altitude of 1000 meters. It has been largely cut off from the rest of the country due its remoteness and armed conflicts. Putao can only be reached by road during summer (for locals) but is accessible year round by air if there are sufficient tourist groups to justify a plane. The area around Putao is famous for the variety of endemic birds and rare orchids, which grow naturally. Many orchid lovers are especially attracted by the so-called “Black Orchid” that can be found in the mountains east and west of Putao. According to locals, U Tay Za has been awarded logging and gold mining concessions on land on Malikha River bank, which lies to the north of Putao. U Tay Za has already opened a USD500-a- night resort called Malikha Lodge near Mulashidee village, which is 140 miles north of Myitkyina. Htun Htun Min
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:11:43 +0000
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