Of 235 dams across Myanmar, 133 have less storage water, but only one has stopped generating electricity, said Myint Soe, deputy director of the Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department.

“This year, less water flowed to those dams. There are 235 dams that store rainwater. When compared with 2019, the year 2020 saw less water flow to 133 dams. But 86 other dams have more storage water and 16 have normal water levels,” he said.

The dams already provided water for monsoon paddy last year. For summer paddy, however, there will be irrigation water shortages in some places.  

“Yezin and Ngalaik dams in Nay Pyi Taw cannot provide water for summer paddy this year. We have to prioritize for drinking purposes. Nationwide, we will be able to provide irrigation water for nearly 1.1 million acres like the amount we provided last year. Less storage water will not much impact on summer paddy cultivation,” Myint Soe commented.

Of the 133 dams with less storage water, three are in Kayah State, one in Chin State, 15 in Sagaing Region, 25 in Bago Region, 36 in Magway Region, 31 in Mandalay Region, 10 in Nay Pyi Taw, three in Mon State, two in Rakhine State, three in Yangon Region, one in Shan State and three in Ayeyawady Region.

“In Yangon Region, Ngamoeyeik dam has less water. But water distribution will not be affected. The amount of water distribution for summer paddy will be reduced a little. Other crops will be grown,” he added.   

He said his department will provide irrigation water for about 1.1 million acres—about 780,000 acres of summer paddy and about 320,000 acres of other crops. He added there could be about 2 million acres of summer paddy across the country but famers have their own resources to irrigate them.