Mawlamyine, March (4)
According to reports, the Military Council’s planned international-class airport and international port projects to be built near Mawlamyine, Mon State, have been on hold for more than a year.
On December 10, 2021, the military council established a central committee on project implementation composed of its Union Ministers to build an international-level airport and an international port near Mawlamyine, but it has not yet been implemented so far.
The military council has designated land to build an international airport near Kawpayan village, Mudong Township, Mon State, and an international port between Balauk NyaungWai and Wekali villages, near the sea outlet of Mudong Township.
Locals claim that although the roads around the airport project are being repaired, the project area has yet to be implemented more than a year after a committee was formed.
A local told Than Lwin Times said, “For the port project and the airport project, no contract businesses have yet arrived on the site. The authorities have not yet paid compensation to those whose land was confiscated,”
The military council allotted over 4,300 acres of land for an international airport and 360 acres for a port project.
It is planned to pay more than 27 billion kyat as compensation for the project land.
Mon State Chief Minister U Aung Kyi Thein confirmed to Than Lwin Times at the end of last year that if he received a budget from the Ministry of Transport and Communications to compensate for the airport and port projects, he would pay it within three months.
However, since the military council’s 2022-2023 financial year is from April 2022 to March this year, there is only one month left to pay the land compensation, so Than Lwin Times contacted the spokesperson of the junta’s Mon State Council at least five times to ask about it, but there was no response.
The Mon Unity Party, which worked with the military council, stated to Than Lwin Times in August last year that it was keeping an eye on the progress of the airport and port projects and would make an effort to provide land compensation in accordance with the law.
On the other hand, the military council invited professional services companies in August last year to apply for a tender to conduct a feasibility study for the construction of an international port and airport.
The military council imagines the development of tourism and the economy in the region following the construction of the airport and port, but businessmen assert that this will not be possible due to the current turmoil.
News-Than Lwin Times