BY late April, 70 percent of the infrastructure of one of Nay Pyi Taw’s biggest projects, the Nga Laik Dam Nature Resort Development Project has been completed. Project planners are making the project, which is aimed at nature lovers, as “green” as possible.

The 21,100-acre development, a nature resort, is taking shape 16 miles northwest of Pyinmana. Building began in December 2007, and investment so far is K350 million.

Designer U Sithu Myint Swe says every aspect of the project takes into account the need to protect the environment.

“As it is a nature resort, we’ve included guidelines and security measures to cover anything that can be harmful, such as waste disposal, use of plastic bags, fire hazards and the destruction of trees,” he said.

U Sithu says that as more hotels are built around the site there will be a need to avoid water pollution and the disposal of toxic chemicals. This will help preserve the natural untouched environment around the dam.

“The resort will include attractions such as buggy rides, cycling and hiking, horseback riding, and motor-boat rides. We’re designing it especially for nature lovers, so they can find all these facilities in one place,” he said.

U Khin Zaw, director general of the Irrigation Department, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, said incentives were being offered to long-term investors. “We plan to offer 30-year leases to investors, of which the first five years will be free of charge,” he said.

“We will supervise the condition of investors and assess whether they can develop their projects within five years or not,” he said. U Khin Zaw said investors are being sought for areas like the golf course, hotels and joy-ride facilities, and they could also propose their own programs or particular facility to run.

The ministry is responsible for the overall management of the project and for setting investment conditions. Suntac Technologies Company handles the project master plan. The seven main components: Golf course, administration and motel zone, relaxation zone, artificial beach and camping zone, island zone, nature observation zone and botanical garden zone, are included in phase one of the project.

Up to the second week of April, infrastructure was already complete in the guesthouse, the restaurant and the picnic shelter for children, and still continuing in the swimming pool, artificial beach, golf course and camping facilities.