Imsil-gun Ranks First in Basic Local Government Category in Slate Disposal Project Evaluation

[Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Nosik] Imsil County in Jeonbuk has achieved excellent results in the slate disposal support project promoted for the health of its residents.

The county announced on the 29th that it received the Minister of Environment Commendation as the first place in the basic local government category among 218 local governments that carried out the slate disposal support project in the '2022 Slate Disposal Project' local government evaluation.

This evaluation comprehensively considered factors such as whether the allocated quantity for each slate disposal project field was achieved, actual execution rate, budget execution rate, budget reallocation status, and local government participation rate.

The slate disposal support project is a government initiative to prevent health damage to the public caused by aging slate by providing up to 3.44 million KRW per household for slate disposal costs only for slate houses.

The county secured a budget of 770 million KRW this year, supporting 239 houses for roof improvement and 11 houses for roof replacement. Priority support households such as basic livelihood security recipients were fully supported for slate removal and disposal costs, and up to 10 million KRW for roof improvement, respectively.

In particular, among the slate roof removal recipients, vulnerable groups (low-income households) receive full support for new roof improvement costs after slate removal, gaining great response from residents, and the county is actively considering expanding support for roof improvement costs.

Slate contains 10-15% asbestos, which is harmful to the human body, and its use has been completely banned since 2009.

However, asbestos powder from old and deteriorated slate installed previously still threatens residents' health as it scatters in the wind, making slate removal urgent.

Accordingly, since 2013, the county has invested a total of 4.06 billion KRW in the old house slate removal and disposal support project, removing a total of 1,743 slate houses.

County Governor Shim Min said, “Many asbestos buildings have been left as they are due to the economic burden of slate disposal costs,” and added, “We will continue to promote the slate disposal support project to protect residents' health and continuously improve the residential environment.”

Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Nosik baekok@asiae.co.kr