Mandalay City Development Committee revenue department head U Win Maung said the authority was now auctioning off the building permits for pandals near the Mandalay moat, and discouraged successful bidders against selling the permits.

“If you sell them to others, we will revoke the permits and re-auction them.

“Those trying to make a profit doing this will also face the music according to rules and regulations,” he said.

The city authorities is using a auction system to issue pandal permits this year in a move to boost revenue.

Those applying for permits have to submit their applications with an advance payment of K2 million.

Those who violate the authorities’ regulations, such as selling the permits to others, building pandals outside the permitted areas, and wearing revealing clothes, will lose their K2 million deposits.

There had been cases of people reselling the permits in previous years. Depending on location, the permits could fetch over K20 million.

Ko Phoe That, who is building a pandal this Thingyan celebration, said with the auction system, those who could afford the money would take part in it.

“But they will have to build the pandals themselves. In previous years, when lots were drawn to get permits, people sold their permits to make money. The prices were higher then. 

“But this year, with the auction system, I hear the bids for permits to build at the eastern moat were close to K10 million,” he said.

Pandals are only allowed at the eastern, northern and western moats, as the Thingyan celebration will take place at the southern moat.

Only eight pandals are allowed at each of the three locations.

 

– Translation by Khine Thazin Han