The Government of Japan, under its Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects(GGP) Scheme, granted US$116,464 for a humanitarian program entitled “The Project for Construction of Parami Water Supply System in Sagaing Region”.

Mr. Ichiro MARUYAMA, Chargé ď Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Japan in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and U AungKoe, Chairman of SagaingParami Ward Water Supply Implementation Committee, signed the grant contract on November 13, 2012.

Parami Ward,newly expandedand established in 1990, iscurrently situated in the middle part of Sagaing City. In Parami Ward Bamar, Kachin, Kayin, Chin, Rakhine and Shan nationals are living together. There are about 450 households and 2,700 dwellers (including monks and nuns). Most of them are retired government personnel and casual labours.

Parami Ward is about one and half miles away from the Ayeyarwady River in the western side of Sagaing Mountain Range.Residents in this Warddepend upon tube wells which producelimiteddomestic water unsuitable for drinking. Because of the unsafe drinking water, people of Parami Wardmaysufferfrom water borne diseases in the long-term and they have to spend extra money from their daily income to purchase good quality drinking water.

In order to help provide better access to safe and affordable water, the Government of Japan granted under the GGP scheme the necessary funds for construction of a main ground tank of 60,000 gallons on top of the mountain range, a 6300-feetlong 4” diameter GI feeder pipeline,a 2600-feet long 4” diameter water distribution PVC pipeline andone pump house with19,000 gallons tank including provision ofwater lifting pumps, one transformer and electrical installation.

It is expected that this assistance willcontribute to the all-round development of Parami Ward of SagaingRegionby enabling residents to have better access to quality water,and will further strengthen existing friendly relation between Japan and Myanmar.