Local residents and lawmakers of Nyaung Shwe Township in Shan State have spoken out against the proposed construction of a hotel on 90 acres of land close to Inle Lake, one of the country’s prime tourism destinations. An article in The Irrawaddy, said that the group is protesting against the construction of a luxury hotel planned by Myanmar Naing Group on land that had once been a wildlife preservation area. “We did not know about the hotel project before. We have become aware of the importance of preserving these areas,” local resident Ma Khaing Khaing Tun was quoted as saying. According to the report, the developers had received permission to begin the project in 2011 and planned to begin construction in 2016, but have been held back by local protests. Any objection to the project had to be made by August 15, the article said. “We will see whether the government will allow the hotel project to continue or not,” said U Nay Myo, lower house representative for Nyaung Shwe. A hotel zone has been established close to Inle Lake, but local residents have said further construction could have a devastating impact on the lake, which is already suffering environmental damage.
