Water shortage has led authorities to plan construction of a large reservoir in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State. It has confiscated many farmlands owned by local farmers to build the reservoir, said farmers and local sources.

"As far as I know the authorities plan to build a 1,000-acre reservoir and have confiscated 600 acres of farmland from farmers of villages near the planned reservoir," a village elder said.

The reservoir is being constructed on the outskirts of Sittwe close to East Satro Kya and West Satro Kya Villages near northern Sittwe.

"About 200 acres of farmland have been completed for the reservoir and another 400 acres are to be prepared for construction to start," the village elder said.

Many farmers who lost their farms are from East Satro Kya and West Satro Kya Villages, Mindra Byin, Kay Daw Chay, Kaydaw Gri, Aung Tha Pyi, and Byin Pru Wra. Authorities have provided some alternative farmlands to those who lost land, but the new land is far from the villages.

"We received some farmland instead of our own farmland that was confiscated for the reservoir, but the land is very far from our village and we cannot work there," another farmer said.

The new land is located at Tae Chaung Village, eight miles from the villages where the farmers live.

The municipal authorities of Sittwe have been constructing the reservoir by the dam of Upper Satry Kya Creek in Sittwe since the last dry season, after people of Sittwe suffered from another severe annual water shortage.

"The construction of the reservoir is welcome but many farmers have lost their land. Many farmers need cash compensation instead of land because the new land is too far from their village for them to be able to cultivate it," the farmer said.