Sitagu Academy opens water supply hub for monastic communities

A Sitagu water facility with the capacity to supply water to over 100 monasteries, nunneries, and meditation retreats at the foot of the Mandalay Hill was inaugurated with a ceremony at the Sitagu Buddhist Academy in Aungmyaythazan Township of Mandalay Region on 6 March.
Construction on the facility commenced in 2017. It included the installation of two tube wells and two tanks, each capable of holding 35,000 gallons. Initially, the water was distributed to seven monasteries.
Between 2017 and 2021, the number of monastic buildings dependent on the water supply increased to 64. To meet this growing need, relevant officials approached the Mandalay City Development Committee in 2021 to request access to water from the Mandalay Moat. Upon receiving the approval, the project to install pumps for drawing water from the moat began in June 2022 with support from the regional government.
The construction concluded in October 2022, and the facility started distributing water to more than 2,000 residents in over 100 monastic buildings in 2024. Sitagu Sayadaw graced the ceremony along with cabinet members of the Mandalay Regional government. — TWA/NT