"A 10 Billion Won Budget Support Is an Unapproved Blank Check by the Provincial Council"
Chungnam Governor Kim Taeheum's recent announcement on June 6 expressing his strong intention to push forward with the construction of the Jicheon Dam in Cheongyang has sparked fierce opposition from the committee against the project.
The Jicheon Dam Opposition Committee held a press conference titled "Resolute Opposition to Jicheon Dam, Condemnation of Governor Kim Taeheum" at 11 a.m. on the 11th at the provincial government press center, strongly protesting Governor Kim's push for the dam.
The opposition committee pointed out, "On June 6, Governor Kim Taeheum said in a press conference that he would push for the construction of the Jicheon Dam, even using harsh language like 'even if a knife is at my throat.' He talked about a 10 billion won budget support and forming a residents' consultative body, but there was no prior consultation with Cheongyang County, the party directly affected."
They continued, "The 10 billion won budget support is baseless and has not gone through a resolution by the Chungnam Provincial Council. Even if the budget is established, it is not direct support for residents but is for dam construction-related facilities, which is something that should be done anyway," they criticized.
Regarding Governor Kim's statement that "there will be no water source protection zone regulations after the dam is completed in 10 years," the committee criticized, "It is ignorant for a governor with only one year left in his term to talk about what will happen in 10 years and how he will take responsibility as an administrator."
The committee refuted Chungnam Province's claims, saying, "The water shortage issue in Chungnam can be sufficiently resolved by building small-scale water storage facilities such as underground storage dams in each region, along with seawater desalination projects and readjustments to urban planning and industrial complex development."
They added, "Governor Kim's talk of providing 10 billion won for Cheongyang and Buyeo Counties is without plan or basis, and most of it is not direct support but project costs that are naturally required for dam construction. He is misleading public opinion as if he is giving special benefits to residents."
The committee emphasized, "Governor Kim has ignored residents who oppose the Jicheon Dam and disparaged them as opponents. The opposition to the Jicheon Dam is clear, with the Cheongyang County Governor and Cheongyang County Council adopting a resolution against it, and over 100 organizations have been demanding its cancellation for more than half a year."
Regarding the formation of a residents' consultative body by the province, the committee stated, "They talk as if they are forming a consultative body to gather opinions from opposing residents, but it is just a trick for dam construction. Solving the water shortage problem is the governor's responsibility, and if he wants to build a dam so badly, he should build it where water is actually needed," they asserted.
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