[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, instructed to promote customized, step-by-step water supply measures tailored to the field as prolonged drought is expected, and to ensure that residents receive practical benefits through a "prior action, post-report" approach in affected areas.
As of the 24th of this year, the rainfall in the Jeonnam region is the worst since meteorological observations began in 1973. Accordingly, Jeonnam Province held an emergency drought countermeasure meeting on the 21st and has proactively operated the Jeonnam Drought Countermeasure Headquarters, headed by the governor.
At the second drought countermeasure status briefing on the 28th, Governor Kim emphasized, "As a short-term drought overcoming measure, we must make every effort to secure water by deploying water supply lines to island areas, filling water sources, and dredging sediment," and added, "Please visit the sites to listen to residents' difficulties and take prior action and report afterward so that residents can receive practical benefits."
He continued, "It is very important to take water supply response measures suited to the on-site conditions of drought-affected areas," and urged, "Support bottled water for elderly living alone in island areas, cooperate with the provincial water management department and related offices, immediately implement short-term drought countermeasure projects, and actively promote water conservation to reduce water usage, minimizing residents' inconvenience."
Jeonnam Province plans to emphasize the seriousness of the drought and actively appeal for water-saving practices through comprehensive online and offline water conservation promotional activities (social networking services (SNS), on-site campaigns, disaster messages, village broadcasts, etc.) by mobilizing all available promotional media and administrative personnel in cooperation with cities, counties, related organizations, and private groups.
In Wando County, where drought damage is severe, mid- to long-term measures such as operating water trucks, supplying bottled water, developing large-scale wells, and expanding seawater desalination facilities are being promoted together as water supply measures.
Governor Kim said, "Since the drought is expected to continue during the winter dry season, fundamentally reducing water usage is the most important thing, so I ask residents to actively participate in water-saving practices," and added, "Jeonnam Province will do its best to implement proactive water supply measures in drought-affected areas."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
