Strong Opposition to Suncheon City's Waste Disposal Facility Near Gwangyang City
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] “Why are you coming here?” This was the remark made by a Suncheon city official toward the members of the Gwangyang City Council, public officials, and citizens who had gathered in front of the Suncheon City Hall.
The day before, members of the Gwangyang Citizens’ Countermeasure Committee Against the Construction of the Waste Landfill in Gusaeng and Geoncheon areas, along with the chairman of the Gwangyang City Council and public officials, visited Suncheon City Hall and held a press conference in front of the city hall opposing the construction of the waste landfill around Gusaeng and Geoncheon villages, demanding the complete withdrawal of the candidate site selection.
Looking at this, a Suncheon city official, Mr. A, said, “Gwangyang City, which built a wood pellet thermal power plant across from the Shindae district and an aluminum factory in the Sepung industrial complex without even asking for Suncheon City’s opinion, coming to Suncheon City Hall like this is incomprehensible,” adding, “Why are you coming here?”
A citizen, Mr. B, said, “If Gwangyang City is not interfering in internal affairs by putting citizens at the forefront, these matters should be discussed at the local government heads’ council, but holding a microphone and criticizing the Suncheon mayor and officials only stirs up regional sentiments.”
Meanwhile, the countermeasure committee stated, “It is known that the Suncheon City Waste Disposal Facility Site Selection Committee included the area around Gusaeng-ri in Bonggang-myeon, Gwangyang City, and Geoncheon village in Seomyeon as candidate landfill sites and is conducting feasibility studies,” adding, “Considering a waste landfill, an environmental pollution facility, in areas adjacent to Gwangyang City as candidate sites causes conflicts between neighboring cities and destroys the cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship, which Gwangyang citizens absolutely cannot tolerate.”
They also criticized, “This area is the upper stream of the Gwangyang Seocheon River, and if a waste disposal facility is constructed here, it will result in pollution and odor in Seocheon, a waterfront park for Gwangyang citizens, seriously threatening the quality of life and safety of Gwangyang citizens.”
After the statement, the countermeasure committee members met with Suncheon Deputy Mayor Lim Chae-young and conveyed the determination of Gwangyang citizens to urge the withdrawal of the waste landfill construction in Seomyeon’s Gusaeng and Geoncheon areas.
Meanwhile, there are also criticisms that it is inappropriate for the Suncheon City Council to remain silent about the fact that even the chairman of the Gwangyang City Council visited the protest site.
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