Geochang-gun Bantu Committee Holds Rally Against 'Hwanggang Regional Water Intake Facility Installation Project'

Raising Voices of Opposition at the Entrance of Sejong City Ministry of Environment Building

Protest against the installation project of Hwanggang Regional Water Intake Facility at the entrance of the Ministry of Environment building in Sejong City
[Image source=Geochang-gun]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] The Opposition Committee Against the Installation of the Hwanggang Regional Water Intake Facility in Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam (hereinafter referred to as the Opposition Committee) held a rally on the 24th at the entrance of the Ministry of Environment building in Sejong City to oppose the 'Hwanggang Regional Water Intake Facility Installation Project.'

About 50 people, including Provincial Assemblyman Kim Ilsu and members of the Opposition Committee, participated in the rally, directing their opposition to the Ministry of Environment-led 'Nakdong River Basin Water Management Committee' members attending the meeting, demanding the cancellation of the committee meeting and opposing the installation project being pushed forward without residents' consent.

At the opposition rally, Representative Son Jeong-woon stated, “We absolutely cannot accept any discussions or decisions by the government and Gyeongsangnam-do that are proceeding excluding Geochang-gun, the direct and indirect stakeholder of the installation project,” and added, “We will engage in a strong struggle together with 70,000 residents until the installation project is halted.”

Geochang County Governor Goo In-mo urged, “The Ministry of Environment should immediately withdraw the Nakdong River Basin Water Management Committee meeting, which has lost procedural legitimacy, and stop the project that causes conflicts between regions,” and encouraged, “Although I regret not being able to join due to other schedules, I will stand with the Opposition Committee until the end.”

Formed on the 21st, the Geochang County Opposition Committee includes livestock organizations, environmental groups, village chief councils, residents' autonomy committees, farmers' organizations, and chambers of commerce, and has also held a resolution rally at the Geochang County Office rotary.

The 'Nakdong River Basin Water Management Committee' is the highest decision-making body related to water within the Nakdong River basin, composed of 21 government members led by the Minister of Environment as chairman and 22 private members including a private chairman. Amid increasing opposition levels from Geochang-gun, Hapcheon-gun, and Changnyeong-gun, attention is focused on how the Ministry of Environment and Gyeongsangnam-do will proceed with the matters deliberated and resolved at today's committee meeting.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.