"Nay Pyi Taw, 9 April— The government confirmed the legality of a gem mining operation in Sagaing Region on Thursday in response to a question from a member of the Pyithu Hluttaw. U Kyaw Naing Htay of the Indaw constituency asked whether the mine in a reserved forest near a village in his township of Sagaing Region is legally permitted, saying the company ignores letters of protest calling for the mine?s closure. U Than Tun Aung, Deputy Minister for Mines, answered that his ministry issued a gem company with a licence for jade mining in February 2010, adding that it had not been informed of the letter of notice dated 4 February, 2015, sent by the Ministry of Forestry. The deputy minister pledged his ministry?s coordination with the Ministry of Forestry. U Pike Lin of the Paletwa constituency raised a query concerning the prospect of a national power grid linking Paletwa in Chin State and Kyauktaw in Rakhine State. Deputy Minister for Electric Power U Aung Than Oo rejected the proposal, saying the installation of power lines between the two townships depends on the budget. The funds for the project are not included in the 2015-2016 fiscal year, he said."