A large number of houses near the Myitkyina airport have to be demolished for its expansion. U Myo Myint, a secretary of the Kachin State Peace and Development Council told this to heads of Aye Mya Tharyar ward yesterday following measurements of the airport runway and the need for its expansion on June 28, said locals.
 
Aye Mya Tharyar ward is located near the airport in Myitkyina. It has over 2,000 houses of which 1,000 homes may have to be removed, said a Myitkyina local.
 
"Measurement is still continuing. It's learnt that homes in Jarmai Kaung ward are included in this area. The expansion will be both on the runway and the surrounding fields. The project started last year but the measurement work is starting now. It's learnt that homes have to shift to the Pamati area 18 miles from Myitkyina, leading to  disappointment among the people of the airport area,"  said a local.
 
There is a rumour circulating that compensation will be paid for shifting, to the tune of Kyat 15 lakh for a brick house and Kyat 10 lakh for a wooden house. Authorities have not yet notified the time of shifting, locals said.
 
Aye Mya Tharyar ward is located behind the Myitkyina-Mandalay railway route. It was a new extension ward but it has gradually become populated with more houses and has become a big ward, said the local.
 
"Now the authorities are testing the response of the people living in the area. Measurement work was done at night after which the authorities told the heads of ward about the removal of the houses though they did not give the exact schedule," locals added.
 
Now the junta is officially beginning to calculate and measure the airfield. The regime planned to convert Myitkyina airport to an international airport last year. The government attempted to issue arrival visas for Chinese tourists after an airport has been built in Htein Chon, a Chinese town on the Sino-Burma border, to boost tourism in Burma.