Balar River Water Pumping Station benefits 1000 acres of arable lands

The Water Resources Utilization Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, in its bid to contribute to one of the Five Rural Development Programmes:Rural Water Supply, is implementing water pumping projects and river water pumping projects in Hmawby,Hlegu and Mingaladon townships of Yangon Division, one of which is Balar River Water Pumping Project.Balar River Water Pumping Project (1) was launched on 1 December 2004 and completed on 27 February 2005.It is located by Y a n g o n - M a n d a l a y Highway near No. 3 Highway in Mingaladon Township. It gets water from the canal of Ngamoeyeik Dam.Balar River Water Pumping Project (1) pumps water as high as 10 feet. It has a stage to pump water, a fixed type, along with the 2500 feet long main canal, tributory canals stretching 13,000 feet in total, 46 canal structures, and two sets of 40 HP (30) KW pump. It irrigates 300acres of farmlands.Balar River Water Pumping Project (2) commenced in 2004-2005 fiscal year, and was completed in 2005-2006 fiscal year.It is situated by Y a n g o n - M a n d a l a y Highway, and it gets water from the new Barlar canal of Ngamoeyeik Dam.Balar River Water Pumping Project (2) pumps water as high as 15 feet, with a waterpumping stage, a fixed type, the 10,000 feet long main canal, tributory canals stretching 19,000 feet in total, 52 canal structures, and three sets of 30 HP (22) KW water pump. It benefits 700 acres of farmlands.In pumping water at Balar River Water Pumping Project (2), 30 HP duel type engine is reinforced by a paddy husk-fired engine, and the combination system has proved successful. The innovation helps reduce diesel consumption by two-thirds, and save K17,730 a one-acre summer paddy field.Previously, farmers of Hlegu and Mingaladon townships had often to wait for supply of irrigation water in cultivating summer paddy when irrigation water could not be pumped due to power shortage. Now,irrigation water can be pumped at any time due to use of paddy husk-fired power generator.Farmers get sufficient irrigation water whenever it is needed, and paddy husk is purchased from them at the price of K 200 per basket to be used as biofuel in generating paddy husk-fired generators. So, they are enjoying higher incomes.The Water Resources Utilization Department is planning to pump water with the use of paddy husk-fired power to supply irrigation water on a large scale across the nation.Simultaneously, it is working hard to supply electric power through paddy husk-fired power plants in rural areas.