The water shortage problem usually begins in March, said U Soe Ko Ko, the director-general of the Department of Rural Development.

He said the government was allocating more funds to ease shortages, adding that cooperation from the international community was helping to provide improved access to water.

U Soe Ko Ko said methods for easing shortages differed throughout the country.

“In some places, we dig wells and reservoirs; in mountainous areas, we make springs and in some places we repair old wells and reservoirs,” he said.

One badly affected area in Yangon Region is Dala Township, across the Yangon River from downtown Yangon, where residents of Yarza Thingyan Ward are restricted to collecting drinking water from a tank for two hours a day.

“We are allowed to fetch water between 3pm and 5pm; those who cannot fetch water have to buy it and two buckets of water cost K300 to K400,” said a resident of the township, which has a population of about 7,000.

“This year is not as bad as last year,” said the resident.

Residents said the Department of Rural Development dug three reservoirs in Dala Township last year but they contain water not intended for drinking which is purified by the addition of alum.

The Government has borrowed ¥600 million(about K5.67 billion) from Japan to tackle the water shortage problem, Mizzima reported.