7274. Mandalay Pyigyitagon Water Supply Project – Myanmar - DRIVE

The Pyigyitagon township in Mandalay, Myanmar currently has 250.000 inhabitants. The Mandalay City Development Council is proposing a Water Supply Project to sustainably and continuously provide potable water according to WHO and Myanmar standards. In total about 125,000 people, businesses and industries will benefit from the project. As part of the Dutch 'private sector development' fund DRIVE - facilitated by the RVO - the NCEA has reviewed the ESIA.

Advisory reports and other documents

15 Mar 2019: Advisory review
7274 Mandalay Pyigyitagon Water Supply Project

Significant details

Main findings

This ESIA contains several major shortcomings. The NCEA concludes that the ESIA does not yet provide sufficient information on the environmental and social risks of the project for informed decision making by RVO. In the second chapter, the NCEA sets out key areas where the ESIA needs to be improved to provide a sound basis for decision making. In short: the NCEA recommends that additional assessment work is undertaken and that the ESIA is supplemented to address the following shortcomings:

  • Health effects due to absence of wastewater treatment;
  • Sustainable water supply system;
  • Compensation of farmers;
  • Access to water by non-registered settlers. 
Detailed findings in relation to the IFC Performance Standards are described in chapter 3 of this advice. 

Approach taken by the NCEA

This advice was prepared by a working group of experts acting on behalf of the NCEA. The group comprises expertise in the following disciplines: (eco)hydrology, water quality and drinking water supply, and social issues.
The NCEA has reviewed the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report – version 20 December 2019. In addition, the NCEA has reviewed supplementary information to better understand the information provided in the ESIA report. 

Parties involved

Members of the working group

Brenda Brainch
Louis Cornelis (Luuk) Rietveld
Gijs Simons, MSc

Technical secretary: Arend Kolhoff

Further details

Country: Myanmar


Last modified: 18 Jul 2022