Kim Hayong, Chairman of Gyeongnam Provincial Council, Proposes Government to Extend Support for River Maintenance Projects

Unanimously Adopted at the Council of Chairpersons of 17 City and Provincial Assemblies Nationwide

On the 28th, the city of Ulsan hosted the "6th Extraordinary Meeting of the 2021 Korea Council of Provincial and Metropolitan Council Chairpersons." [Image source=Gyeongnam Provincial Council]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] Kim Ha-yong, chairman of the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Council, attended the 6th Extraordinary Meeting of the 2021 Korea Association of Provincial Council Chairpersons held in Ulsan on the 28th and proposed the "Extension of the Funding Preservation Period for Local Stream Maintenance Projects."

All provincial council chairpersons attending this extraordinary meeting unanimously adopted the proposal. The Association of Provincial Council Chairpersons plans to submit the proposal jointly under the names of the chairpersons of the 17 provincial councils nationwide to the National Assembly, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Economy and Finance, and others.

The proposal contains a request to the government to extend the funding preservation period for local stream maintenance projects, which significantly impact citizens' lives by protecting their lives, safety, and property, from the current support period ending in 2022 to 2026.

Local stream maintenance projects are included in the government's first phase of fiscal decentralization, which involves converting some national subsidy projects into general projects managed by local governments.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to preserve national funding for three years until 2022 as a measure to support the stable transition of local governments' projects following the transfer of functions.

However, if national funding support is discontinued thereafter, maintenance projects in local governments with low fiscal independence may be reduced or abolished. This is because fiscal disparities among local governments can threaten the safety and property of local residents.

Chairman Kim said, "Due to recent climate change causing increased flood risks such as heavy rain, continuous investment in local streams is more necessary than ever," adding, "I will continue to address local issues and propose them to the government and related agencies to ensure the safety of not only Gyeongsangnam-do residents but all local residents and the stable securing of local government funding."

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