Minkan Dam built near the village of Minkan in Myaing Township, Pakokku District, was inaugurated on 30 July 2008. The dam on Padaukpin Creek near Minkan Village is the 39th one in Magway Division and the earthen embarkment is 40 ft high and 2,100 ft long. The dam was built at the cost of K 254.40 million and it has a storage capacity of 390 acre feet.

Also present on the occasion were Chairman of Magway Division Peace and Development Council Col Phone Maw Shwe, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation U Ohn Myint, departmental officials, members of social organizations and residents.

Speaking on the occasion, Col Phone Maw Shwe called on local authorities and residents to help maintain dams and reservoirs in the region. Minkan Dam is built with the aim of underpinning the local rice sufficiency and greening Pakokku District, he said. He continued to say that Magway Division deserves to be called “Oil Bowl” as the edible oil sufficiency in the region has increased up to 429 percent. The division sets its target of 932,096 acres of rain-fed paddy and 160,000 acres of irrigation water-fed paddy in the division which has a population of 5.29 million. There were altogether 38 dams and reservoirs and 260,110 acres of irrigated fields in the division. As 39 dams and reservoirs including Minkan Dam have been built in Magway Division, the total number of irrigated fields has reached 260,310 acres in the region, he said. In Pakokku District, a total of 71 small dams and reservoirs are projected, and when 24 small dams and reservoirs have been built, 1,036 acres more have been put under paddy. Thanks to 31 more small dams and reservoirs constructed by the Irrigation Department, 4,697 acres more have been put under paddy in the district, he said.

In his speech, Deputy Minister U Ohn Myint urged local people to maintain the new irrigation facility that is the 39th dam in Magway Division and 213th one in the country.

A resident spoke words of thanks to the government. Chairman of Magway Division PDC Col Phone Maw Shwe unveiled the signboard of Minkan Dam. Afterwards, Col Phone Maw Shwe and Deputy Minister U Ohn Myint formally opened the dam.