SAGAING-------The embankment of historic Pintin dam which is the largest one in Khin-U Township, Shwebo District, Sagaing Region collapsed yesterday morning destroying monsoon paddy plantations and causing floods nearby villages, according to locals.

“An embankment collapsed near spillway of southern part of a lake in the morning of September 22nd. Due to dam collapse, Monsoon paddy plantations as well as a road linking between Khin-U Township and a village were flooded. However, mostly monsoon paddy plantations had been flooded before dam collapse because heavy rain poured down in Khin-U Township. Now, collapsed dam causes a very wicked to the monsoon paddy plantations. Due to dam collapse, nearby villages is being flooded and then farmers already faced difficulties. So, we need to renovate the collapsed dam,” said one of the farmers from Pintin village.

As torrential rain poured down in Khin-U Township in recent days, much water flowed into the Pintin dam. Due to the effect, the embankment of a dam failed it on September 22nd. Now, the water level of dame is above 9-ft.

No one renovate the collapsed dam and villagers already informed the Irrigation Department.

The Pintin dam construction had started in Pyu Period in the fourth century AD and it became the largest and historic in the township. Chindwin Princess Company won the tender to undergo major repairs to the dam with a budget of Ks 225.9 million allotted by the Sagaing Regional Government in 2018-19 fiscal years.

But, the dam was an urgent repair had to be carried out again in the first week of September due to the leaking embankment.