SIVE REFOTT "??• ■^r -a-^ "g-i -wr^ "w "|k T • i^UMiC AND ENG ^ X ^ ^.t M-j> M\. JL X^ DEVELOPMENT OF BURMA PREPARED FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF BURMA VOLUME II AUGUST 1953 KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT MCCARTHY ENGINEERS IN ASSOCIATION WITH PIERCE MANAGEMENT, INC. AND ROBERT R. NATHAN ASSOCIATES, INC. ECONOMIC AND ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT OF BURMA COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ECONOMIC AND ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT OF BURMA PREPARED FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF BURMA VOLUME II TELECOMMUNICATIONS POWER INDUSTRY AUGUST 1953 KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT McCARTHY ENGINEERS IN ASSOCIATION WITH PIERCE MANAGEMENT, INC. AND ROBERT R. NATHAN ASSOCIATES, INC. PRINTED AND BOUND IN GREAT BRITAIN BY HAZELL, WATSON & VINEY, LTD. AYLESBURY & I ONDON TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter of Transmittal II Foreword viii Page Page VOLUME I E. The Structure of the Revenue System 62 F. Banking Pohcy 67 PARTI G. Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Pohcy 72 INTRODUCTION H. Summary of Recommendations 74 CHAPTER I. RESOURCES FOR BURMA'S DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER V. ORGANIZATION FOR A. Introduction 3 COORDINATING THE PROGRAM B. Physical Geography 3 A. The Four Major Steps in Coordinating Economic Activity 76 C. Agriculture 5 B. Organization for Planning 77 D. Forests 8 C. Organization for Programming 78 E. Minerals 11 D. Staff for Planning and Programming 78 F. Water Resources 11 E. Organization and Procedure for Imple¬ G. Transportation 14 mentation of Economic and Functional H. Capital Resources 15 Pohcies 80 I. Human Resources 15 F. Organization for Progress Reporting and Expediting 81 CHAPTER II. THE TASK AHEAD G. Economic and Social Board Staff 82 A. Economic Problem and Opportunity 19 H. Summary 82 B. Development Goals 20 C. Achieving Maximum Output 28 CHAPTER VL ADMINISTERING THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM D. Criteria for the Selection of Projects 31 A. The Ministries 83 E. Reaching the Goal: Planning and Execution 34 B. The Development Corporations 84 C. Other Government Corporations and Boards 86 PART II D. Problems of Planning, Reporting and Ex¬ ECONOMICS AND ADMINISTRATION pediting 86 E. Other General Problems 87 CHAPTER III. FINANCING THE PROGRAM F. The Private and Mixed Sectors of the A. The Nature of the Problem 39 Economy 89 B. Financing Foreign Exchange Payments 41 G. Summary of Recommendations 92 C. Financing Development Expenditures within Burma 49 CHAPTER VII. MANNING THE PROGRAM D. Conclusions 57 A. The Problem of Specialized Manpower 94 B. Meeting the Problem of Skill and Knowledge 99 CHAPTER IV. CENTRAL ECONOMIC POLICIES C. Meeting the General Problems of Increasing FOR THE PROGRAM Labor Productivity on the Job 107 A. Introduction 58 D. The Need for Able Management—A Special B. Improvement in Fiscal Information 58 Problem 111 C. Fiscal Policy: The Level of Current Expen¬ E. Possible Solutions to the Management ditures 61 Problem 115 F. Summary of Recommendations 120 VI ECONOMIC AND ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT OF BURMA PART III PuKc Page CHAPTER XIV. OCEAN SHIPPING AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION A. Coastal Steamship Services in Prewar CHAPTER VIII. AGRlCULTURf and Postwar Periods 350 A. Objectives 125 B. Investigation of Needs for Steamer B. Present Agricultural Development 125 Services 350 C. National Agricultural Programs 135 C. Union of Burma Shipping Board 351 D. Increase of Agricultural Production 151 D. Conclusion 351 E. Agricultural Aims and Suggested Goals 187 F. Conclusions and Recommendations 188 CHAPTER XV. PORTS AND WATERWAYS CONSERVANCY CHAPTER IX. IRRIGATION A. Introduction 352 A. Over-all Irrigation Program 195 B. Conservancy for Seaports 352 B. Specific Projects 210 C. Conservancy for Waterways 352 C. Estimate of Costs and Benefits 240 D. The Conservancy Problem 354 D. Recommendations 241 E. Conclusions 355 PART IV CHAPTER XVI. HIGHWAYS TRANSPORTATION A. Introduction 356 CHAPTER X. TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM B. Classification 357 A. Present Situation 251 C. Existing Highway System 361 B. Interrelations 251 D. Traffic 379 C. Operating Requirements 252 E. Comparisons with Other Highway Systems 394 D. Review of Recommendations 255 F. Design Requirements 402 G. Construction Methods 408 CHAPTER XI. BURMA RAILWAYS H. Construction and Material Costs 420 A. Introduction 256 I. Maintenance 425 B. History 256 J. Materials and Testing Laboratory, Shops 426 C. Existing System 257 K. Planning and Surveys 426 D. Current Operations 261 L. Highway Administration 427 E. Requirements for Further Improvement 267 M. Highway Financing 428 F. Conclusion 278 N. Highway Code 431 0. Commercial Transport 446 CHAPTER XII. SEAPORTS OF BURMA P. Transport Commission 446 A. Introduction 281 Q. Recommended Changes in Geometries B. Port of Rangoon 281 and Location 447 C. Port of Akyab 319 R. General Recommendations 456 D. Port of Bassein 324 E. Port of Moulmein 327 CHAPTER XVII. AIRWAYS F. Port of Tavoy 330 A. Introduction 465 G. Port of Mergui 332 B. International Service 466 C. Domestic Service 470 CHAPTER XIII. INLAND WATERWAYS D. Personnel 471 A. Introduction 336 E. Air Safety, Aircraft and Workshop 475 B. Existing Facilities and Operations 336 F. Airports, Facilities and Terminals 478 C. Operation of Inland Water Transport 338 G. Flight Control and Signal Communi¬ D. New Industry Requirements 342 cation 482 E. Personnel Training Program 348 H. Accounting and Statistics 483 F. Conclusions 348 1. Future Developments 483 G. Estimated Required Expenditures 348 J. Conclusions and Recommendations 489 TABLE OF CONTENTS Pa"e Pii'^e VOLUME II CHAPTER XXI. MINERAL INDLSTRllS PARTY A. General Gcolog> 647 TELECOMMUNICATIONS B. Economic Geology 647 C. Established Mineral Production Operations 648 CHAPTER XVIII. TELECOMMUNICATIONS D. Field Examinations, Studies and Investiga¬ A. Introduction 495 tions 649 B. Historical 495 E. Future Mineral Development 652 C. The Insurrection 497 F. Conclusions and Recommendations 683 D. The Present Situation 497 E. Telecommunications Operations, Plans and Problems 500 CHAPTER XXII. MANUFACTURING A. Review of Existing National Industry 685 PART VI B. A Survey of Industrial PossibiUtics for Burma 685 POWER C. An Industrial Development Program for CHAPTER XIX. ELECTRIC POWER Burma 693 A. Early Hydroelectric Investigations 557 D. Recommendations 802 B. Prewar Power System 561 E. Implementation Procedure 804 C. Existing Power Development 561 D. Initial Diesel Plants at 36 Towns 561 E. Three Large Power Plants for Immediate CHAPTER XXIII. THE DEVELOPMENT OF Development 565 SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRY F. Kalewa Mine Power Project 626 A. Importance of Small-scale Industry in thie G. Other Hydroelectric Projects for Future Burmese Economy 808 Development 628 B. Policies for Development of Small-scale H. Proposed Expansion of Basic Transmission Industry 810 System 639 C. Implementation of Policies for Development I. Diesel Plants for Outlying Towns 640 of Small-scale Industry 813 J. Large Hydroelectric Sites for Future Study 640 D. Summary of Recommendations 814 K. Stream Flow Measurement 640 L. Summary and Recommendations 640 CHAPTER XXIV. FORESTRY AND OTHER INDUSTRIES PART VII A. Forestry 815 INDUSTRY B. Other Industries 818 CHAPTER XX. INTERRELATION OF INDUSTRIES A. Range of Industries 645 CHAPTER XXV. THE COORDINATED PLAN B. Common Economic Factors 645 A. Supporting Functions 822 C. Common Requirements 645 B. The Combined Program 832 PART V TELECOMMUNICATIONS ji.B. n—1 CHAPTER XVIII TELECOMMUNICATIONS A. INTRODUCTION tempo of expansion increased until, just before the 1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE invasion, the populated areas of Burma enjoyed ade¬ The object of this report is to record and evaluate quate local and long-distance telephone service. the findings of a general survey of the functions of the Vacuum-tube repeaters had been introduced in 1922 Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of to improve trunk operation. In 1940, carrier operation Transport and Communications, and to recommend was begun on the Rangoon-Prome route so that one expanded, supplementary or new services, within line could provide several speech and/or telegraph the framework of the people's needs and purchasing circuits. All telephone services were operated by the power. Government's Posts and Telegraphs Department with the exception of the Rangoon and Moulmein ex¬ 2. SOURCES OF INFORMATION changes. Plans were being made to take these over when Burma was invaded by the Japanese. Connec¬ Data have been gathered from any and all sources tion to the international radiotelephone network was believed to afford factual information. Such records provided by a link between Rangoon and Madras. as are available of pre-independence operations have been discussed with departmental officials. District as c. Radio well as headquarters workings and organization have been observed, and personnel have been interviewed Wireless (radio) was utiUzed in Burma, as in other throughout Burma. All of this has involved some 1,800 nations, for shipping, aeronautical, meteorological, miles of travel by rail, 1,200 miles by air, and 350 broadcasting and international services. The Posts miles by highway beyond Rangoon and its environs. and Telegraphs Department was responsible for these FaciUties presently in operation and planned have expanding services and for such hcensing and en¬ been analyzed from the standpoints of efficiency and forcement of national and international regulations economy. When pertinent, facilities of neighbouring as was necessary. Over a half-million messages in countries have also been studied. various categories were handled by the radio services in the fiscal year 1939-40. It is recalled that the relay