Geochang-gun Hwanggang Intake Facility Protest Committee Consults with Ministry of Environment and Gyeongnam Officials

Discussion on Geochang-gun Public Officials' Service Participation, Expansion of Water System Fund, Inclusion of Affected Areas

Hwanggang Intake Station Bantuwi, Consultation with Ministry of Environment and Gyeongnam Province Officials [Image Source=Geochang-gun]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam Province held a dialogue session on the 28th at the county office situation room with the Hwanggang Regional Water Intake Facility Installation Opposition Committee and officials from the Ministry of Environment and Gyeongnam Province to listen to the opinions of the opposition committee.

This meeting was arranged after the opposition committee requested a meeting with the Minister of Environment and the Governor of Gyeongnam Province on the 7th, and the responsible department head held this session to hear preliminary opinions before the meeting.

Song Gang-hoon, Chairman of the Village Leaders Association, Yoo Ok-yong, Head of the Korean Pig Farmers Branch, Lee Jong-hee, Chairman of the Korean Farmers Association, and county council members Choi Jeong-hwan and Kwon Soon-mo also attended to represent the county's position.

Before the meeting began, Gu In-mo, Mayor of Geochang-gun, strongly requested, “Please include county officials in the Ministry of Environment’s commissioned project, expand the watershed fund, and include Hapcheon-gun and Changnyeong-gun as affected areas in the Hwanggang Regional Water Intake Facility Installation Project.”

Following this, Representative Son stated, “There has been distrust among county residents regarding the government’s previously promoted regional water supply plans. Although the Ministry of Environment explains that the water intake facility installation project will not incur additional regulations due to legal amendments, residents are concerned that the operation of the intake facility could be changed at any time,” and demanded, “Seek the consent of Geochang-gun residents for the Hwanggang Regional Water Intake Facility Installation Project.”

Additionally, county council members Choi Jeong-hwan and Kwon Soon-mo voiced in unison, “Although the intake point will be installed downstream of the Hwanggang River, the actual water supply source is Hapcheon Dam upstream. Geochang-gun, which supplies most of the dam water, is a stakeholder in the intake facility installation, yet the Ministry of Environment has proceeded with the commissioned project without communicating with local residents,” and demanded, “Explain the reason for excluding Geochang-gun from the process.”

Lee Chae-eun, Director General of Water Policy at the Ministry of Environment, said, “If residents oppose, we will not proceed. Although damages caused by Hapcheon Dam are currently supported under the existing system, we will review expanding the watershed fund and include Geochang-gun officials in the commissioned project.”