YANGON, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's Yangon region government is drawing a south-west expansion plan with the city to establish seven new satellite towns, the military-run Myawaddy news reported Monday.
The seven planned satellite towns are Yangon Eastern, Yangon South-West, Thanlyin, Dala, Htantabin, Hmawby and Helgu townships, Yangon Mayor U Maung Maung Soe was quoted as saying.
The Greater Yangon Urban Development Project 2040 is to be implemented in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The satellite towns will comprises residential wards, factories, workshops and other businesses in consideration of the potential population growth, the Yangon Mayor told the region parliament.
The government will provide proper compensation to ensure local landowners not to suffer and be affected by the project, said lawmakers.
The South-West township project will be located between the Pan Hlaing River and the Twanty Canal, and between the Hlaing River and Hlaingtharya-Twanty Road in the outskirts of western Yangon, said the sources, adding that the added land will cover about 30,000 acres (12,150 hectares).
Myanmar is drawing a master plan for development of Yangon city with the participation of people's representatives, legal experts, public administrators and experts with international experiences.
According to the three-phase master plan of the JICA, Phase-1 is concerned with downtown area, while Phase 2 and Phase 3 are related to the outskirts and satellite towns, said officials.
The project for all round development of Yangon city is said to pose the biggest challenge to the new regional government.
Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein noted that in an attempt to revitalize the city of Yangon, there are many cases of not meeting quality standard , which was attributed to the lack of accountability.
He cited that the city is being faced with the overflowing of drainage canals as they are blocked by little thrown away by careless citizens.
He pointed out that certain buildings are not in accord with the characteristics of a modern metropolitan city which are in need of repair and renovation.
The existing Yangon city has a population of over 6 million and an area of 795 square kilometers.
