NAY PYI TAW March 9
The second meeting of the National Land Use Council took place at Ingyin Hall of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation in Nay Pyi Taw took place at 1.30pm today with an address by chairman of the council Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win.
The meeting was attended by the National Land Use Council members Union Ministers Lt-Gen Soe Htut, Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, U Win Shein, U Aung Naing Oo, Dr Thidar Oo, U Tin Htut Oo, Admiral Tin Aung San, U Aung Than Oo and U ShweLay, Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman Dr Maung Maung Naing, deputy ministers and officials, while members region and state chief ministers attended the meeting through video conferencing.
In his speech, the Vice-Senior General said land resources are most fundamental and essential for humanity and societies.
It is necessary to notice that unlike other resources, land is a limited natural resource and cannot be accumulated.
Myanmar has a lot of challenges to land management. They include disputes in governmentmanaged land plots, the need to amend the existing laws and procedures and enact new ones in accord with the current and age and system, making of the existing laws in respective sectors relevant, incompatibility and weaknesses in respecting the law and procedures, law abuse, the need to collect correct land data and make correct maps, and the need for cooperation between relevant departments in on-ground land management.
To be able to overcome these challenges, all stakeholders need to coordinate and cooperate in drafting a practical national land law and making land management laws compatible in order to address the land policy issues.
Moreover, work plans must be adopted in order of priority to realize the land use policy for land reform and good land management.
Of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs of the United Nations, the majority is related to land management.
Goal 15 aims to conserve global ecosystem and management for the protection of all living things on earth. So, it is mainly relevant to land management.
Strategy 5 para 5 of the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (2018-2030) adopted in line with states that plans for good land management and sustainability have been adopted for the people to be able to enjoy the benefits of natural resources. It is necessary to coordinate in all land-related sectors to successfully realize the objectives of the National Land Use Council.
Priority measures must be taken for land use and mangrove forests, enough drinking water supply, short and longterm croplands, clusters of factories and industrial zones, residential communities, farmlands and cultivable land to help improve the socio-economy of the people.
It is urged that the working committees concerned and technical advisory team and land use committees of Union Territory (Nay Pyi Taw) and regions and states have to give priority to taking tasks to be able to effectively carry out the 10-points task of National Land Use Council for emergence of a good land management system that will implement the objective, guidance and principles of national land use policy.
In working together, the role of the working committees concerned and technical advisory team and land use committee of Union Territory (Nay PyiTaw) and regions and states is very important to be able to practically implement the prioritized tasks such as compiling and drawing national land use law and harmonizing relevant land management laws, drawing and designating national land use projects and land use zones and establishing land information based on the main guidance of the national land use policy.
Afterwards, Secretary of National Land Use Council Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Khin Maung Yi briefed on the state of completion on the tasks being taken as per the decisions made at the first meeting of the Council.
Next, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs and Chairman of Working Committee for Drawing Land Use Projects and Cooperation and Coordination Maj-Gen Soe Tint Naing, Chairman of Working Committee for Drawing One Map Myanmar system Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U MinMin Oo, Chairman of Working Committee for Implementing Agricultural Development Strategy and Cooperation and Coordination Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Dr Aung Gyi and the director-general of Forest Department, who is head of land use technical advisory team, briefed on sector-wise completion of the tasks.
Then, union ministers who are members of National Land Use Council, chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council, chief ministers of region and state governments and officials reported on drawing One Map Myanmar system, systematic management matters on effective use of land, matters for not using agricultural land in other way, emergence of National Land Law, establishment of institutions needed for implementation of National Land Use Policy, effective and profitable use of land in investment matters, state of management on ministry-wise use of land and land management matters in regions and states. The Vice-Senior General discussed their reports and gave an appraisal.
Later, the Vice-Senior General gave concluding remarks at themeeting.