RANGOON — Construction of a high-rise development in Rangoon owned by the leader of a militia is unlikely to resume after it was temporarily suspended earlier this week, according to an official from the municipal government.
The Yangon City Development Council (YCDC) issued an order on Monday to halt construction of No. 74 University Ave., the project commenced without approval from the municipal body.
The property is owned by Kyaw Myint, chairman of the Pansay People’s Militia, an armed group allied with the Burma Army. The militia was founded about 20 years ago and is based in Muse, on the Sino-Burmese border.
Khin Hlaing, an elected member of the YCDC, said the design of the development violated city guidelines and probably would not meet the city’s guidelines.
“Though it has only been temporarily, it is very unlikely to get permission to resume because of its design,” Khin Hlaing told reporters on Friday.
Situated near Inya Lake, a designated noise-free zone, the proposed 12.5 storey development would exceed the neighborhood’s 42 ft height cap.
The decision was made after Khin Hlaing and Lower House parliamentarian May Win Myint, a member of the National League for democracy, spoke out about the development earlier this year.
“Residents—including Buddhist monks—in the neighborhood had submitted their complaints about the construction since August last year,” Khin Hlaing said on Friday.
On Wednesday, Kyaw Myint submitted a letter, seen by The Irrawaddy, to Rangoon Division Minister Myint Swe, requesting that the project be allowed to resume. The appeal claimed that the development had already been approved by the YCDC and neighboring residents.
The militia leader was not immediately available for comments on Friday.
