YANGON, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Naing Win Soe, 36-year-old farmer from Aung Thar village in Lewe township, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, no longer needs to make six or seven trips daily to fetch water for his family.
Thanks to a rural water supply project funded by the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, Naing Win Soe can now access clean water from a tank installed in his yard. The project has eased his daily burden of carrying water over a 400-meter distance.
"In the past, the place where we had to collect water was far away. Water scarcity was a big problem, especially in summer, and drinking water was not clean. We had to wait for our turn to fetch water. Digging wells was impossible in most places here. Here, we have to dig approximately 400-500 feet to access water," Naing Win Soe, head of the four-member family, told Xinhua.
Expressing his gratitude, he said, "I'm extremely happy. I even gave some of my land for the construction of a water storage tank for the project."
Another beneficiary, Ko Hlaing Win, 38-year-old villager, said "We used to carry water in carts, which took about two hours daily. The new water supply project is very helpful."
"It not only benefits us but also our cattle. I'm grateful to those who provided this assistance," he added.
Daw Sabel, 50, another villager, explained how life has improved. "In the past, fetching water was very difficult. We had to wait in line, taking turns to collect water. Now, water flows from a tap connected to the storage tank. It's so convenient," she said.
She praised Chinese workers who built the system, saying, "The Chinese people constructed the water supply system. They are friendly. Now, we have clean water, which is very good for my family of seven."
The water supply project helps more than 300 villagers with a well, a purification system, an 8,000-gallon storage tower, three water storage tanks and a pipeline.
During a ceremony marking the completion of the project, U Hla Myint Thein, 42-year-old farmer, spoke on behalf of the villagers, "I'm grateful to those who supported the project. We will also maintain the facilities to ensure the long-term sustainability of the well, water storage tower, water storage tanks, and pipelines."
U Kyaw Soe Moe, 49, a 100-household leader in Aung Thar village, who has been in this role since 2010, reflected on the past. "As a village leader, I used to deal with the water shortage problem constantly. Now, that problem is gone," he said.
"During the construction of the water supply system, I oversaw some of the work. For bilateral friendship, the donation is good for both China and Myanmar," he added.
U Than Tun Oo, chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council, emphasized broader benefits of the project, explaining the system has provided clean drinking water, improved personal hygiene and overall health of the villagers.
