The government has launched a project to bring water to every village in the country through a 24-hour supply system. Rural development department director general U Khant Zaw told the media on May 26 that the agriculture ministry was already spending K25-30 billion every year on water purification for drought-stricken villages.

“As part of the 100-day projects, we are digging wells and pools for more than 500 villages. We are also repairing and upgrading wells, pools and pump machines,” he said.

The Department of Rural Development has been carrying out water purification work in more than 2000 villages every year, including 1000 villages particularly affected by this year’s powerful El Niño phenomenon. They were working closely with civil society and public donors, he said.

U Khant Zaw said the Ministry of Electricity and Energy was working with his department to provide or upgrade electricity in 1800 off-grid villages.
Now about 70 villages in Magwe and Mandalay regions have been provided with water supply systems as model villages for the rest of the country.