"Diversification of Nakdong River water intake sources requires communication and consent from residents first."

On the 13th, Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, reiterated his usual stance on promoting the Nakdong River water intake diversification project to Kim Wan-seop, Minister of Environment, who visited the Gyeongnam Provincial Office.

Governor Park emphasized to Minister Kim, "Drinking clean water is very important to the residents of Gyeongnam Province, but communication with residents must come first to prevent further escalation of conflicts."

Above all, he repeatedly urged the Ministry of Environment to prioritize efforts to obtain residents' consent and actively engage in communication to reach resident agreement.

Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province (right), is shaking hands with Kim Wan-seop, Minister of Environment, who visited the provincial government office. Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government

He also said, "The Nakdong River water intake diversification project is an important task for improving the quality of life of the residents," adding, "We will actively cooperate when related procedures such as resident meetings proceed."

The Nakdong River water intake diversification project aims to secure additional clean water such as bank-filtered water and recirculated water from the upper reaches or tributaries of the Nakdong River and supply it to residents in the eastern region of Gyeongnam Province and the lower Nakdong River areas such as Busan, where the water supply situation is relatively poor.

Although the project has been underway since 2021, it has faced opposition from residents in the Nakdong River basin areas of Gyeongnam, including Changnyeong, Sancheong, and Uiryeong.

Residents are concerned about damages such as difficulties in securing agricultural water due to groundwater depletion in hinterland farmlands and the possibility of additional designation of the intake area and its surroundings as water source protection zones, urging that damage countermeasures be prioritized.

Previously, Governor Park maintained the position that "consent from residents in the Nakdong River basin is necessary, and sufficient compensation and damage countermeasures for residents must be established first," emphasizing that resident consent comes first.

Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province (center right), is meeting with Kim Wan-seop, Minister of Environment (center left), and other officials from the Ministry of Environment who visited the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office to discuss major environmental issues in Gyeongnam. Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government

On this day, Governor Park requested the government to prepare proactive measures for this project and also asked for a government response regarding the installation of the Jirisan cable car.

The Jirisan cable car installation project has been on hold for over 10 years since the Ministry of Environment's national park cable car pilot project in 2012.

Governor Park stressed, "After about 10 years of efforts in Gyeongnam, the route was finally unified to Sancheong County last June," adding, "Now it is the government's turn to respond."

He requested that since simultaneous promotion in Yeongnam and Honam regions could lead to indefinite delays, the government should first proceed with Gyeongnam, where the route has been unified.

He also proposed improvements to regulations related to facilities using water-based cutting fluids, which have been uniformly banned from entering new national and general industrial complexes.

He said, "The system should be changed to allow companies using water-based cutting fluids that have prepared water quality preservation measures to move in."

Considering that most companies using water-based cutting fluids are small-scale businesses, he added that the deadline for relocating such facilities near rivers should be extended by four years until 2028, and that research and development projects for eco-friendly alternatives should be promoted simultaneously.

Additionally, they discussed major environmental issues in Gyeongnam, including the promotion of the Joman River in Gimhae to a national river and national funding support for asbestos building demolition and disposal costs.

Governor Park said, "Through this meeting, I requested the government's interest and support for major environmental issues in Gyeongnam," and added, "We will provide better environment and quality of life to residents through close cooperation with the Ministry of Environment."

Minister Kim responded, "We will carefully review Gyeongnam's proposals and spare no support and cooperation necessary to solve regional environmental problems," and said, "We will seek ways to harmonize environmental conservation and regional development."