Gyeongbuk Province to Invest 10.4 Billion KRW in Nakdong River Basin Management Fund Next Year... 13 Cities and Counties to Benefit 17,000 People

7 Cities and Counties Including Andong Exempt from Water Usage Charges

The photo shows a panoramic view of Andong Hahoe Village.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] Gyeongbuk Province announced on the 8th that it will invest 10.4 billion KRW from the Nakdong River Basin Management Fund into the water source protection areas and waterfront zones (hereinafter referred to as water source management areas) within the Nakdong River Basin, as well as the areas surrounding dams, for the next year.

The targets include a total of 17,163 residents: 3,081 residents living in the water source management areas of 13 cities and counties including Pohang, and 14,082 residents living in the areas surrounding dams. A total of 688 resident support projects will be implemented.

The resident support projects are funded by water usage charges established under the "Act on Water Management and Resident Support in the Nakdong River Basin," enacted on January 14, 2002.

These projects aim to increase income and improve living environments for residents of water source management areas and dam surroundings who face various activity restrictions due to the designation of these areas. Beneficiaries include land and building owners as well as workers in these areas.

The projects mainly consist of village-level joint initiatives such as mushroom cultivation facilities, agricultural road expansion and paving, purchase of agricultural materials, construction of village halls and senior centers, and water supply and sewage facilities, focusing on residents' long-standing needs.

The Nakdong River Basin Management Fund collects a charge of 170 KRW per ton from the final consumers who receive raw water directly or purified water taken from the main stream sections of the Nakdong River and other rivers.

Among these, seven cities and counties including Andong, where water source protection areas, waterfront zones, dam surroundings, and multipurpose dams are located, are exempted from water usage charges considering activity restrictions and residents' inconveniences.

Choi Young-sook, Director of the Environment, Forestry and Resources Bureau, stated, "To enhance the effects of resident support projects such as income increase and living environment improvement in water source management and dam surrounding areas, we plan to promote large-scale and mid- to long-term projects with significant impact."

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