Patheingyi Township City Development Committee Chairman Nyunt Sann told Mizzima that they would take severe action against those building houses, roads, and developing residential areas on farmland in Patheingyi Township, Mandalay Region and transporting building materials of sand and quarry.

“We have taken action against filling earth on plots, building roads and building houses on farmland in 493, Yankin, Kan Kaung Kwin, Nann Oo Lwin Kwin in Patheingyi Township without permission for using the farmland for other purposes. We have also given directives to continue taking action against such people,” Nyunt Sann said.

Action was taken against such people in the past but some of them continued their illegal activities so that the authorities will take action against transporters and their vehicles used in transporting construction materials such as sand and quarry.

“I’d like to say to quarry miners and sand miners and also to the transporters of these construction materials. These vehicles are transporting construction materials and they are filling earth, dumping quarry, building roads on farmlands in our township without permission from us. Our Mandalay Region city development (municipal) committee will take action against these people as per the directive given by the minister,” Nyunt Sann added.

It is learned that education campaigns are being conducted for awareness among quarry miners, sand miners, transporters and drivers of vehicles transporting these construction materials about imminent taking action against these people.

But a sand miner said, “Yes, they are conducting these awareness campaigns but it is not convenient for us to ask the buyers if your plots are legal or not. We can sell our quarry only when the buyer comes. We don’t know what business we will be able to do if they take action against us too.”

Some of the drivers of vehicles transporting sand and quarry say they are concerned over being arrested but they have to continue their work for their livelihood.

A driver of quarry transporting vehicle said, “Most of the buyers come to us for filling earth and building roads. We transport quarry mostly to these people. They have their own agent and company in the city. We have to transport quarry whoever places an order with us. We can see the building of houses on farmland with our own eyes. We are not showing disrespect to the laws but we have to do this job for our livelihood.”

Actions are being taken against those who use farmland for other purposes without applying for permission but some are reportedly continuing the building of houses and living in them.