Yangon authorities are spending K1 billion on flood prevention across the city, including in the badly affected downtown area, prioritizing attempts to unclog drains.
Severe blockages have been caused by build-ups of silt and junk including, in one instance, a sofa.
“A drain 5 feet deep may be 4 feet deep in silt,” Thaung Tin Htwe, the Yangon Eastern district administrator, told the Myanmar Times. “We pay by piece-work, or hire people through the ward administration, using the Yangon City Development Committee budget.”
A new committee has been set up to deal with drain clearance.
Previous attempts to clear the drains have failed after the areas were cleared only to be immediately swamped with rubbish.
“Now the contactors are required to undertake that they will remove the rubbish promptly and dispose of it properly,” said Than Htut Oo, the Western district administrator.
