the myanmar quickstep, myanmar’s progress in

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The Myanmar Quickstep,

Myanmars progress in urban

developmentAlistair Blunt

Urban Development Specialist

MyanmarADB, Manila, Philippines

July 2013

The Myanmar Quickstep. Myanmars

progress in urban development

Alistair Blunt, Adviser to Ministry of Construction

ADB

17th July 2013


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The Myanmar Quickstep, Myanmars progress in urban

development

CONTENTS1. Background Political and Administrative

Environment

2. The Government Departments involved inUrban Development

3. The Issues: by sector

4. The proposed approach and the changingrole of Government

5. Some conclusions


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Background Facts

Myanmar Population estimated to beabout 62 million

Urban Population estimated to beabout 17.5 million or 28%

Projected urban population 2030 is30 million

Urban growth rate 2.9% p.a.

National growth rate 1.29%

Consists of Seven States, Seven

Regions and the Union Territories Union has bicameral legislature, and

States/Regions have an Assembly.Each state has its own executiveheaded by a Chief Minister


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BACKGROUNDFactors that contribute to the unevendevelopment Decentralisation without devolution

Reluctance/lack of experience in lower levels ofgovernment to making decisions

Lack of Capacity

Lack of Policy

Lack of Data

No long-term comprehensive development plan

Lack of Legislative foundation for spatial planning orurban development

Top heavy approval system for plans

32 Ministers

The forthcoming Elections in 2015


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Stakeholder Consultation Order 27/2013 introduced some

representation on the Development

Committees (does not apply to the majorcities)

No representative council below level of

State/Region, except at Ward level. Traditional consultation with the yami yapa

(the parents of the community)


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Ministry of Construction Two DGs, one for Public Works and one for Human

Settlements and Housing Development.

Public works concerned with National Roads andGovernment buildings

DHSHD responsible for Spatial Planning and Housing,

including government land management,

government housing projects, including publichousing, rental housing, upgrading, serviced plots

and Special Economic Zones


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Ministry of Agriculture

Approval of land conversions

Dams for reservoirs for irrigation and drinking water

Ministry of Forestry

Environmental Impact Analysis requirements

Ministry of Energy Dams for power plants

Power supply

Development Board (located in State and Region administration,previously Minister of Border Areas, National Races andDevelopment Affairs)

Local roads

Water and sanitation

Drainage and Flood control

Solid Waste

Note these three are under the CDCs in Yangon and Mandalay.Transportation planning responsibility of State or Region.


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State and Region Government Structure

8 Sector Ministries:

Finance and Planning

Economic development

Agriculture and Livestock Breeding (includes freshwater

fishing) Energy, Electricity, Mining and Forestry

Industry

Transport, Communications and Construction

Social affairs (includes disaster preparedness, conservation ofcultural heritage, museums etc. Theatres and exhibitions)

Management (the activities of the development Board)

All central ministry representative staff must report to the Stateor Region Minister as well as Central Government.


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ISSUES FOR THE URBAN SECTOR

1. Global Warming

Cyclone Nargis hitMyanmar in 2010.Reported that up to

200,000 people died. Overall climate

vulnerability factor to2030 is classified asacute (Institute for

Sustainable Futures,University of Sydney.WASH Sector Brief.2011).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cyclone_Nargis_-Myanmar-3May2008.jpg


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2. Sanitation 14 percent of all urban households

without adequate sanitary facilities

Approximately only 5.5% of Yangon

population connected to main sewerage

system, but very old and in poor state ofrepair, Nay Pyi Taw 10% and Mandalay 0%

18% of Yangon has septic tanks. Grey

water into drainage system and hence

rivers and streams

Toxic industrial waste water flowing into

sources of drinking water supply Deep pits used for final disposal of waste

from septic tanks. Penetration of

underground water supply.

Plans for sewerage service for Mandalay

prepared by Koreans, and JICA proposal

for 36% coverage in Yangon.


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In Yangon, average solid waste

generated 0.396kg/day/person, of

which 64% collected (1400 tons).

In urban areas as a whole, about 60%

3-Rs not generally accepted official

policy,

Informal recycling sector significant

sold to junk yards, sold on to China.

Many families practice separation at

source and sell or give to garbage

collectors Final disposal has been sanitary (?)

land fill or for medical burned. No

system for toxic waste.

Mandalay now attempting alternative

solutions such as waste to power

through a BOT scheme


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4. Drainage and Flood Control

Most areas have somedrainage and flood mitigationwork, but these unable tocope with even two year

floods Lack of Drainage Master Plans

Major problems caused by runoff from surrounding areas,and overflow from riversystems.

Proposals prepared forMandalay by Korean companyand being prepared under JICAfunding for Yangon.


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25% of urban population do not haveaccess to safe water source, 2004.

42% of Yangon population have access

to piped water, with rest using private

tube wells, and other sources

Mandalay: Piped water available in 4

of 5 townships, poor service in one of

these, No system in new township of

Anamapura with no system.

Main sources of water include surface

water, tube wells and reservoirs.

NRW/Water loss up to 60% Water quality very poor, Yangon 25%

of water treated and none in

Mandalay, except primary

sedimentation.

Irregular service in Mandalay , 8

hours/day

Tube well boring not controlled.


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6. Housing States main focus is providing

housing for public sector employees(Constitutional requirement)

250,000 serviced plots were providedover past 20 years

Recent performance only average1245 units/year for past five years.

Estimated need of 150,000 units/yearin urban areas

Limited housing finance availablefrom private sector.

However, main thrust of Governmentis to continue large housing projectssuch as Ayawan Yadana project inYangon, for 20,000 units

Proposals for new Housing andConstruction Bank

National Housing Development Board


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9. Finance

Sources of local government income:

Property Tax

Wheels Tax

Alcohol Tax

Toll and Irrigation Fees Construction Fees

Central Government subventions

Loans with approval of central government

Local Government receives back about 7-10 percent ofwhat it collects for central government

Utility charges not related to real costs

Contracts for services delivered by private sector oftenunrelated to performance except in most basic way (e.g.Water project in Mandalay)


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POLICY PROPOSED

Principles1. Government as Facilitator not as Implementer

2. Avoiding unnecessary competition through planning

3. Identifying the most suitable and cost effective location for Governmentinvestment

4. Clear way of choosing priorities for investment5. Green city approach to urban planning

6. Inclusivity as a principle for urban design

7. Including plans for financial support required

8. Use of property tax to discourage land speculation and inefficient landdevelopment

9. Encouraging investment in housing through development of housingfinance sector

A number of policies appear to be accepted, though some are not fullyunderstood by the decision makers. These follow this slide


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Government as Facilitator not as Implementer 3

Regions and States

Temporary department and will form decentraliseddepartments at State and Region level

Will receive hands-on training under the Urban and

Regional Planning DepartmentAll changes under discussion, but are in government draft

Housing development is being decentralised, but in presentpolitical climate with the forthcoming 2015 Elections, theGovernment wants to be seen to be delivering. Hence large

scale Government housing projects still being proposed. Alsothe creation of a National Housing Development Board.

Not integrated with decentralised development departments.


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Avoiding unnecessary competitionthrough planning and identifying themost suitable and cost effectivelocation for Government investment.

New system of planning: planninghierarchy, with conformity of

lower level plans with higher. Identifying locations with

competitive and collaborativeadvantage, while ensuring accessto all necessary basicadministrative, health and

educational services are locatedsuch that the whole populationhas equal access.

This system is being advocated byDHSHD


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Green City Design Land uses planned to minimise travel distances

Strategies to minimise private car usage,including public transport with dedicatedbus lanes, light rail, etc, restrictions onparking in CBD, road user charges,reducing parking available in officedevelopments, park and ride options etc.

Improved solid waste disposal 3 Rs, safefinal disposal, use of biological waste assource of fuel or fertilizers, etc,

Increasing coverage of population withaccess to water and

full sewerage systems


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CONCLUSIONS Myanmars Government style is dominated by the

military thinking.

Extension of institutionalised democracy slow

Devolution of power limited.

Fundamentals of reform taking a back seat becauseof election pressures.

Too few qualified middle and senior staff. Positionsstill given to Armed forces personnel.

English is rarely spoken by those less than 40 yearsold, which makes transfer of knowledge and skills byinternational experts a problem.


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CONCLUSIONS cont.

Despite these constraints, many changes are being developed.

Investment laws have changed to facilitate foreign investment.

Land policies are being developed, supported by among others, FAOand UN Habitat.

Work has started on a draft spatial planning law, and

Work is about to start on the Housing Policy.

Building Codes are being prepared with help of UN Habitat.

Investors are being sought to improve water supply in a number ofcities.

Proposals have been prepared for waste water treatment and storm

water drainage in the major cities of Yangon and Mandalay. Solid waste is seen as a problem and means of using the waste are

being considered, although most by being offered for BOTapproach, without prior study by the City.


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Thank You

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