21 May, 2009: The Development of Border Areas Department has financed a road project worth Kyat 120 lakh, but the construction workers have not got any salary till date.  

According to a source the department had given Kyat 120 lakh to the Township Planning Department in order to construct a road between Lungler and Ralpel Village, Than Tlang Township, in Chin state, western Burma. The road would be 8 miles in length. However, the Planning Department has not given any salary to the workers.

“Chin State Tactical Commander, Hung Ngai had sanctioned Kyat 120 lakh to an official, Shwe Ki, of the Than Tlang Planning Department. However, we have received Kyat 3 lakh only just for the construction,” the Chairman of Than Tlang Municipality said.

According to the statement of Mrs. ShweKi, the total amount Kyat 60 lakh has already been taken from the authority. Of this Kyat 30 lakh has been spent for buying construction tools and Kyat 10 lakh has been spent for extending the Lungler Government High School. An amount of Kyat. 20 lakh is still required and Kyat. 60 lakh is still pending and has to be withdrawn.

“We have received Kyat 3 lakh with the construction tools, but it was very less. However we are afraid to ask for the detailed expenditure list and we are keeping quiet,” a member of the Municipality said.

The road which will link the Than Tlang town to Lungler-Ralpel-Dawn road; and Ralpel to Dawn road will be continued later. Most workers are from Lungler, Khawbung, Ralpel and Dawn villages. The average man power is 200 per day and the road will probably be inaugurated in the last week of May 2009.

The military government has called people to work under the development of border areas not only in Than Tlang Township, but also in Matupi Township. However the authorities never pay wages to these people.