Gold foils on forehead of Mahamuni Buddha Image to be removed

Mandalay January 10

After gold foils on the forehead of the Mahamuni Buddha Image are removed in Mandalay, pilgrims will not be allowed to offer gold foils there anymore, according to the Mahamuni Pagoda Board of Trustees.

“According to experts and venerable Sayadaws (senior monks), there was no gold foils on the forehead of the image in the olden days and the image looked more sacred. However, excessive gold foiling on the forehead has made it uneven, so we will restore the image, and we have found ways to remove gold foils without harming the face of the image,” said U Soe Linn, chairperson of the pagoda board of trustees.

“Before the forehead is repaired, we will repair lighting and ventilation systems first. After that, we will repair the forehead,” he added.

Moreover, ornamental jewelleries decorated on the chest will be removed and will be reinstalled systematically, according to the pagoda board of trustees.

“Of jewelleries, female ornaments such as ring and bracelet will not be fixed again. The jewelleries with features such as having the weight of more than one tickle, being the mined gems and so on will be offered on the image,” they said.

“Previously, the chest of the Buddha was so reverent. I don’t mean it loses reverence at present. The decorations of ornaments are very complex. First, we have to plan to keep those jewelleries securely. After that, we will plan to repair it. At present, we inform the public about repair works via media,” added U Soe Linn.

The pagoda board of trustees told the media on 8 January that they will manage to control selling of foods by itinerant sellers in the vicinity of the pagoda and keep the slippers of pilgrims.

Also, there are plans to systematically place the parking spaces at the pagoda.

The Myawady Daily

Workshop on understanding dynamics of Ayeyawady River

Yangon November 21

A workshop on understanding of Myanmar national basin and dynamics of the Ayeyawady River was held at Mandalay Hill Resort Hotel on Saturday in Mandalay.

The workshop was attended by Mandalay Region Chief Minister Dr Zaw Myint Maung and concerned personnel, lawmakers, experts from the Netherlands, personnel of Myanmar Environmental Science, social society organizations and environmental conservation groups.

“We have to address the concerns and daily problems which villagers relying on the ecosystem of the Ayeyawady River are facing, as well as conserve natural resources as a national duty. 

Therefore, we have carried out community-centred strategic environmental assessment to inform these things to scholars, organizations and policymakers across the country,” said professor U Maung Maung Aye.

He called for forming Ayeyawady Basin Authority with experts to conduct scientific researches as soon as possible.

Among the topics of the workshops are informing the public about dynamics of the Ayeyawady River, collaborative conservation of the river for its sustainable development and upgrading of water transport services along the river.

The Ayeyawady River is the lifeblood of Myanmar. It is 1,348 miles long and there are 215 towns and 19,000 villages with a population of 37.2 million along the river which flows through up to 60 percent of the country.

The Myawady Daily

Taungthaman Bridge to be renovated next month

Taungthaman Bridge

Mandalay November 16

Mandalay’s famous Taungthaman Bridge is planned to be renovated before the end of this year, said U Myo Thit, Mandalay Region Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation.

With advice from the Myanmar Architect Council, the old wooden bridge will be replaced with new teakwood without damaging the bridge’s original features.

U Myo Thit said that the local authorities suspended the repair of the bridge while they were waiting for suggestions from the council for the project. The renovation project is scheduled to restart next month by local and foreign experts.

The Myanmar Architect Council invited the two German experts, who already arrived in the country to join the project. Located in Amayapura Township in Mandalay Region, Taungthaman Bridge is one of major tourist attractions in Myanmar. The bridge, one of Myanmar’s most photographed sites, was built over the shallow Taungthaman Lake in the 1850s.

The Ta u n g thaman Bridge is about 1.2km in length of wooden bridge. It is the longest teak bridge in the world and is about two centuries old. (336)

Yadanarpon Daily

Agriculture Dept. links frequent food poisoning to incorrect use of pesticides

A female worker plucks eggplants.

Mandalay November 16

Food poisoning occurs frequently due to chemical remnants caused by incorrect use of pesticides in growing crops, according to the crops protection section of Mandalay Region Agriculture Department.

In the past, growers used conventional methods. As advertisements on pesticides now spread to rural areas, farmers use them extensively but incorrectly and unsystematically.

Most of imported pesticides come from China and local farmers have little knowledge about the use of it. The department has already directed to distribute pesticides together with manuals written in Myanmar language of how to use them correctly. Still, some are not able to use pesticides correctly that causes after-effects such as food poisoning. The department explained that the correct use of pesticides in growing crops and vegetables would help produce a good yield of crops, improve their quality and protect humans against diseases.

The incorrect use of pesticides includes incorrect choice between a pest and pesticide, the use of pesticides more than necessary, unnecessary use of pesticides, use of unsafe or damaged spraying equipment, use of low quality pesticides, use of pesticides when the harvesting time gets close, reckless disposal of used pesticides and a lack of consideration about weather conditions, the department has warned. 

Yadanarpon Daily