Local residents in Arakan State’s Minbya have complained about the township General Administration Department’s plan to turn Min Lake, a landmark of the town, into a public recreation space, citing their concerns over a risk of water pollution in the lake.
The lake supplies drinking water for town residents and the township general administration is building a walkway along the lake. Local residents are concerned that water in the lake will be polluted by the pedestrian traffic it is expected to draw.
“This lake is a historical lake, and also a major lake that supplies drinking water. We are drinking water from that lake,” said Minbya resident Daw Khin Mar Yi. “We are concerned that water will not be clean anymore when a large number of people visit there. We want the lake to be kept as it is, and fenced in after removing the bushes there.”
Land preparations are now underway at the lake, according to Minbya residents.
“It is unacceptable that the lake will be turned into a public recreation space. Visitors will come at night and eat snacks and dispose of garbage. No matter how many dustbins are placed there, garbage will also fall into the lake. Now they are preparing the land using backhoes. What they are doing is not suitable for the historical lake,” said another resident, U San Shwe Maung.
At a ceremony marking lake renovations on March 26, Minbya Township administrator U Myo Soe Moe said public order would be maintained amid the changes.
“We will keep the lake as a ‘no littering and drinking’ zone, and we will keep it clean. We will not turn it into a recreation space. But we will build a walkway so that senior citizens can stroll and breathe fresh air, and they will notice what will be needed to improve the lake conditions,” said the township administrator.
The lake is being renovated at a cost of K20 million, and is solely funded by the township General Administration Department, he added.
“The government did not allocate a budget for this. We are spending from our own pocket. We will remove the grass, and reinforce the embankment and place benches,” said U Myo Soe Moe.
Ko Min Naing Soe, director of the Minbya Youths Association, urged authorities to ensure that the changes to be made to the lake do not negatively affect it.
“Minbya residents want to keep the historical lake as it is, but authorities are pushing ahead with their plan and we can do nothing. We hope that authorities will preserve the lake,” he said.
