Senior General Than Shwe inspects greening Senior General Than Shwe inspects greening progress of Ayeyawady Bridge (Yadanabon), pays homage to pagoda

NAY PYI TAW, 21 Dec — Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in- Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe, accompanied by Member of the SPDC General Thura Shwe Mann and party, left PyinOoLwin for Monywa of Sagaing Division by helicopter yesterday morning. The Senior General and party were welcomed there by Chairman of Sagaing Division PDC Commander of North- West Command Brig-Gen Myint Soe, Deputy Commander Brig-Gen Tin Maung Ohn and officials. They paid homage to 424 feet high Bawditahtaung Laygyunsekkya Standing Buddha Image near Bawditahtaung Monastery of Khattakantaung Village in Monywa Township At the briefing hall, Commander Brig-Gen Myint Soe reported to the Senior General on greening tasks in Monywa Township, progress of Monywa, Kyaukka and Shwemyintin protected public forests, growing of trees and tasks for environmental conservation. After hearing the reports, the Senior General gave guidance on greening of Monywa Township, conservation of forests and systematic arrangements for extended planting of trees in watershed area. Senior General Than Shwe and party viewed the greening of the environs of Bawditahtaung Monastery and natural scenes.
A 670 feet long and 75 feet high dam has been constructed for greening Bawditahtaung and its environs. The dam benefits arable lands and greening tasks. Furthermore, the water from the dam is being pumped to greening tasks around
Hill 919. The Senior General and party inspected conservation of forests and trees in the surrounding areas of Monywa Technological University and the Sambuddhe Pagoda and development of Monywa. In the afternoon, they proceeded to Mandalay by helicopter. In the evening, Senior General Than Shwe and party paid homage to Hsutaungpyae Buddha Image on Mandalay Hill. They viewed documentary photos of Mandalay Hill. After viewing greening tasks at Mandalay Hill and natural beauty of Mandalay and its envi rons, Senior General Than Shwe gave guidance on greening of Mandalay Hill and ensuring of effective irrigation system of Hsedawgyi Dam. The Senior General presented cash donations to the Pagoda Board of Trustees. The Senior General and party paid homage to Maha Muni Buddha Image. The Senior General signed the visitors’ book and made cash donations there. This morning, they inspected progress of Zaygyo Market and Mandalay and development of Mandalay Kandawgyi Lake and its environs. At Ayeyawady Bridge (Yadanabon) project site, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun reported to the Senior General on facts about the bridge and nearing of the construction task. Deputy Superintending Engineer U Htay Myint reported on installation of suspenders in steel beams of the main bridge, strengthening of suspenders and the testing of the strength of the bridge. Afterwards, Senior General Than Shwe and party inspected the finishing touches to the facility. After inspecting the approach bridge and road on Sagaing side, the Senior General and party went back to Mandalay and inspected Ayeyawady Bridge (Yadanabon) and gave guidance. The main bridge of the 5 , 6 1 4 - f o o t - l o n g Ayeyawady Bridge (Yadanabon) is of steel beam type. The structure features the 49-foot wide four traffic lanes flanked by two six-foot wide pedestrian walkways. The bridge is designed to handle each truck weighing 60 tonnes in maximum.

Although the bridge is not officially inaugurated yet, over 10,000 trucks, 40,000 passenger buses,100,000 light vehicles and 300,000 motor cycles have used it so far. Senior General Than Shwe and party also inspected the construction of road around Taungthaman Wetland, Yadanabon University and development of Amarapura Township in a motorcade. After visiting Mandalay Industrial Zone, the Senior General and party flew to Nay Pyi Taw. During the inspection tour, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Htay Oo and Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig-Gen Thein Zaw inspected Dokwin Agriculture Farm of Myanma Agriculture Service in PyinOoLwin Township yesterday. First, Manager of the farm U Tint Lwin reported to them on the farm. Deputy Supervisor of the farm Daw Yin Yin Mar reported on production process of medicinal herbs from orchids and propagation of orchids. Afterwards, officials concerned conducted Minister Maj-Gen Htay Oo and Minister Brig-Gen Thein Zaw around the farm where herbal orchids were grown with the use of various methods. After inspecting the farm, Minister Maj-Gen Htay Oo urged officials of the farm to grow the herbal orchids successfully in accordance with the guidance of the Head of State. Afterwards, the ministers inspected a small hydel power project on a irrigation canal of Dokwin Dam to produce power on a small scale. The generator equipped at the small project can produce 5 kilowatts. Generators are also equipped on irrigation canals to produce hydro
power on a small scale.