Flooding of farm fields in Sagaing (2)

This post presents the second page (the image on the right below) of an article on a recent flood in Sagaing Region taken from 7 Day News Journal, April 28, 2011. The section of the article in the image on the left is take from page 3. The section of the article in the image on the right is take from page 12.

Vocabulary:

ခွဲခြမ်း ။ to divide equally
မြောင်း ။ ditch, gutter, drain
လွှဲ ။ to divert
မိုးနှောင်း ။ later part of the rainy season
စီး ။ to flow
နီးပါး ။ nearly
တာ ။ embankment
စဉ် ။ to be flung out, spattered, splash, spatter
သဖန်း ။ fig

Translation:

From page 3, Farm fields were flooded because water was released so that a dam would not overflow during the hot season

In order to plant those [crops], the village head and people responsible would divide the land equally. Agricultural lands cultivated in that way were flooded in over 40 villages in Buleh Township and Yin Ma Bin Township, such as Zee Daw, Aye Kone, Zee Phyu Kone, Yin Maung Daing, Hnone Dan, Pya Oh, Nyaung Dant, Sin Deh, Ka Pah Yet, Ywa Naung, Yin Baung Daing, Ywa Thit, Bu Toh Tha, Kan Kone, Nan Daw, Shwe Hlan, Man Kyin Kone, Inn, Nant Tha Kone and Theh Dan, said local farmers.

According to the statements of dam drainage staff at the Myaut Yamah Dam, [regarding] the release of dam water during the period of hot [season] paddy [cultivation], during the days before releasing the water it rained above the level of the dam and upon diverting the excess water a lot of water came and reduced the water [level of the dam] so that there would not to be an overflow of the dam water, said [local farmers].

"This year during the later part of the rainy [sic] season, because there was a lot of rain on top of the mountain and a danger of storms, water was released from the Myaut Yamah stream drainage ditch, and [the water] was higher than the demarcated water mark of the Myaut Yamah water dykes and the excess water was diverted, [and so] the water in the Myaut Yamah stream decreased. Because of the flow from the excess water that was diverted, the agricultural fields of Myaut Yamah stream were nearly all destroyed. In order that other agricultural fields were not destroyed, the dam water from the dyke embankment ditches had to be restrained and released," said Ko Zaw Myint Htun who is responsible for the water control door from the Myaut Yamah stream water reservoir dyke.

Local farmers were worried that the dam water would overflow in the hot season and the dam water was released; [therefore] forewarning the villages in the area below the dam, they would be able to prepare in advance and [the crops] would not destroy as they are now, he said.

Myaut Yamah stream was established in Monywa District, Buleh Township, near Chin Pit village and it is a type of earthen dyke that was built to block the Yamah stream. During the annual rainy period, the demarcated water mark of the Myaut Yamah water reservoir dyke went over the prepared area, and as soon as the excess water was diverted, although the water flowed into Myaut Yamah stream this year during April, it was the first time that the unexpected flow of the stream water was experienced prior to the harvest time of the Myaut Yamah stream agricultural fields. Farmers said that only in the rainy season is the type of event that floods agricultural fields common. Because of the release of water from The-phan port dam in Sagaing Division during the 2010 rainy [season] banana orchards and bean fields were flooded.