Han River Basin Office Announces 'Change Approval' for Closure of Songtan Water Intake and Treatment Plant
City: "Systematic Urban Planning to Prevent Unregulated Development in Released Areas"
As part of the development of the national advanced system semiconductor industrial complex in the I-dong and Namsa-eup areas of Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, the process to lift the 'Songtan Water Source Protection Zone' is expected to be completed within this year.
According to Yongin City on the 22nd, the Hangang River Basin Environmental Office recently approved and announced on the 19th the 'Application for Change of General Water Supply Project' submitted by Pyeongtaek City to close the Songtan water intake and purification plant. Approval of the change in the general water supply project is the administrative procedure immediately preceding the lifting of the Songtan Water Source Protection Zone. With this announcement, the Songtan water intake and purification plant, which has supplied 15,000 tons of domestic water to Pyeongtaek City, will be closed. Instead, the domestic water supplied to Pyeongtaek will be replaced with 150,000 tons of water supplied to the Godeok Industrial Complex.
Aerial view of Idong and Namsa-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin. The 19.5 million pyeong Songtan water source protection area, which has been a constraint on development in this area for 45 years, is expected to be lifted within this year, accelerating the creation of a national industrial complex for advanced system semiconductors. Provided by Yongin City
The lifting of the Songtan Water Source Protection Zone is based on an agreement made in April among the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Environment, Gyeonggi Province, Yongin City, and Pyeongtaek City. The agreement includes lifting the Songtan Water Source Protection Zone of 64.43㎢ (approximately 19.5 million pyeong), which had been an obstacle to the establishment of the Yongin Advanced System Semiconductor National Industrial Complex.
Yongin City expects the lifting procedure to be completed within this year, 3 to 4 months earlier than the initially anticipated first quarter of next year, due to the announcement by the Hangang River Basin Environmental Office. Lee Sang-il, mayor of Yongin City, said, "The lifting of the ‘Songtan Water Source Protection Zone,’ which was an essential condition for the successful establishment of the advanced system semiconductor industrial complex and a long-cherished wish of the citizens, is expected to be realized in the near future."
With the approval of the closure of the Songtan water intake and purification plant, only the application for lifting the water source protection zone by Pyeongtaek City and the procedures for 'factory establishment restrictions and approval changes' for the relevant area remain. Once Pyeongtaek City applies for the lifting, Gyeonggi Province will proceed with the approval process, including hearing the opinions of residents in Yongin and Pyeongtaek.
The Songtan Water Source Protection Zone was designated in 1979 when the Songtan water intake and purification plant was built in Pyeongtaek to supply tap water. The protected area in Yongin covers 64.43㎢ in the I-dong and Namsa-eup areas, which is 1.5 times the size of Osan City.
Until now, Yongin has continuously requested the lifting of the protection zone, arguing that the designation restricted citizens' property rights, but Pyeongtaek, which has the authority to apply for lifting, had refused.
The decisive factor that ended the 45-year-long regulation was the establishment of the advanced system semiconductor industrial complex. Samsung Electronics attracted a 7.28 million㎡ advanced system semiconductor industrial complex in I-dong and Namsa-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin, investing 360 trillion won to build six semiconductor production lines. Since a significant portion of the planned industrial complex site was included in the 'Songtan Water Source Protection Zone,' the city pushed for a complete lifting of the regulated area and succeeded.
Mayor Lee said, "The lifting of the Songtan Water Source Protection Zone will bring positive effects not only for the development of the two cities, Yongin and Pyeongtaek, but also for strengthening the competitiveness of the semiconductor industry," adding, "Various facilities for citizens and businesses can be installed in the area subject to lifting." He also stated, "To prevent indiscriminate development in the area where regulations are lifted, we will establish a systematic urban plan," and added, "We will thoroughly manage the water quality of Jinwicheon Stream to ensure clear water flows down to Pyeongtaek Lake."
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