Standing at an altitude of 3519 feet, PyinOoLwin, a mountain resort is 42 miles from Mandalay by motor road and 46 miles by railroad. Initially, PyinOoLwin was just a large village and was founded into a town by U Maung Maung Dwe, a royal staff member of Amarapura as well as the village head, and Danu national U Kham Oo in 1210 Myanmar Era.
Singu Township in PyinOoLwin District, Mandalay Division, has an annual average rainfall of 43 inches only. So, it did not have enough rain water for agriculture in the rainy season, and was a region where water was scarce in the hot season. The Irrigation Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation thus conducted a feasibility survey in the region to help solve the problem. It found a place near Marlenattaung Village suitable for a dam project. It launched Marlenattaung Dam Project in 2004- 2005 with the permission of the Special Projects Committee. Now, it has completed the project.

The inauguration of Marlenattaung Dam took place on 22 July this year. It is intended to supply irrigation water, one of the major requirements to improve the economic growth of farmers. It is the 201st irrigation facility built from 1988 across the nation and the 49th, in Mandalay Division. The facility secures cultivation of monsoon paddy, summer paddy, beans and pulses and edible oil crops in 10,000 acres of farmlands all year round. Despite being situated by the Ayeyawady River, Singu Township had to rely on rain water to grow crops in the past. Thus, cultivation of crops was not rewarding in such years in which the region got a rainfall less than usual. Now, it can boost production of crops thanks to the newly-opened dam.
In 2006-2007, Mandalay Division grew monsoon paddy on 1,002,196 acres, 550,560 of which were put with the use of irrigation water. The same year, it cultivated summer paddy on 240,100 acres, 214,910 acres of which were put with the use of irrigation water.

It indicates the crucial role the irrigation water plays in cultivating monsoon and summer paddy in Mandalay Division. Arid regions like Mandalay Division will be able to enjoy sufficient irrigation water and grow crops extensively by building more and more dams and lakes.
With this context, the government is systematically implementing dam projects, water supply projects like Meiktila plain water supply project, and projects for reconstruction of lakes and canals. As a result, the number of irrigated acres is on the increase year by year.
People in rural areas constitute 70 per cent of the nation’s population and the majority of them are engaged in agriculture to earn their living. Boosting agricultural production means significant contribution towards the economic growth of the nation and development of rural areas.
In 1988-89, the nation had only 138 dams that benefited 2.5 million acres of farmlands. From that time to date, 203 dams, 305 river water pumping stations and 7569 underground water-tapping stations have been built, benefiting about 6 million acres of arable lands. In 1988-89, irrigated farmlands made up 12.6 per cent of the total sown acreage of 19.9 million acres. Now, the total sown acreage stands at 31.07 million, with 19.02 per cent irrigation acreage.

In addition to irrigation water, Marlenattaung Dam supplies clean water and contributes towards the greening of the region.
Moreover, some of the 10,000 acres of farmlands near the facility will also be put under summer paddy as the second crop pattern, and beans and pulses, as the third crop pattern. It means multiple cropping capacity has increased by two folds or about 4400 acres or has achieved 144 per cent. Therefore, the dam is helping improve the living conditions of local people.

Marlenattaung Dam was built by damming Marlenattaung Creek near Marle Village, about eight miles north-east of Singu with an annual average water inflow of 65,000 acre feet and a 72 feet high and 11,850 feet long earth embankment. It can store 57,470 acre feet. It has a 221 feet long 6'x 4' diameter reinforced concrete conduit on the right side and a 251 feet long three-feet-diameter conduit on the left side along with a 100 feet wide and 1450 feet long reinforced concrete spillway.
The right main canal is 10 miles long and the left main canal, five miles long. With 134 irrigation structures, the dam can irrigate 10,000 acres of lands.
Two 3-KV generators are installed at the dam to supply electricity to nearby areas. The Marlenattaung Multi-purpose Dam Project is, indeed, a prudent one ensuring multiple-cropping pattern, regional greening, and social and economic development of the region.