Locals makes their own bridge connecting 5 villages in Ponnagyun after Military Council declines to provide any budget

Narinjara News, February 15, 2023

In Ponnagyun township of Rakhine state, the bridge that is needed to connect 5 villages has not been budgeted by the military junta, and so the locals are building it themselves, said the leaders of the bridge construction.

It is a bridge that would be used by many people’ Since successive governments have failed to accept their responsibility to build it, the local people are doing it themselves, the locals said.

The bridge spans the Sann Ma Dee stream between Ga Nan Mel and Htaung Laung Pun villages to provide access to Kyein Chaung, Ga Nan Mel, Laung Chaung, Htaung Laung Pun and Phaung Seik villages in Ponnagyun township, and construction began at the beginning of February.

U Aye Tun, the leader of the bridge construction, said that the bridge is more than 130 feet long, and is being built with donations of 80-lakh kyats from local and foreign donors.

“We can no longer afford to rebuild the bamboo bridge every year as before. This year we have received the collective contributions of brothers and sisters, acquaintances and donors at home and abroad. So we have become self-reliant and 70 percent of it has now been completed. Right now we have to temporarily stop the construction of the bridge owing to lack of funds,” he said.

He also said that the bridge will be floored with planks, iron railings and a tin roof will be installed. Another 50-lakh kyat is still needed to complete the bridge.

Residents said that it is a bridge that is very important for the education, health and social affairs of the residents in the villages near the bridge.

Daw Ma Than Win from Htaung Laung Pun village said, “ Our entire village sends the betel to Aung Phyu Pyin village at dawn. The previous bamboo bridge was not strong, enough so there were a lot of problems. After this bridge is completed, at least if we can travel by two-wheelers or three-wheelers, the journey will not be delayed.”

In order to complete the construction of the bridge, donors can donate by contacting the phone numbers of U Aye Tun and U Aung Lin, who are leading the construction of the bridge, at 09 440 439 958 and 09 671 200 600.