Gyeongbuk Province to Invest 83.9 Billion KRW in Nakdong River Basin Management Next Year

Installation of Basic Environmental Facilities, Total Water Pollution Load Management, and Resident Support Projects

Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Government.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Trainee Reporter Lee Seryeong] Gyeongbuk Province announced on the 31st that it has finalized 83.9 billion KRW from the Nakdong River Basin Management Fund for next year's Nakdong River water quality improvement projects and resident support projects.

It will invest 33% of the total 253.5 billion KRW Nakdong River Basin Fund into environmental basic facility installation and operation, non-point source pollution reduction projects, total water pollution load management, and river garbage cleanup projects.

The budget includes 66.9 billion KRW for installation and operation of environmental basic facilities such as sewage treatment plants, 2.7 billion KRW for non-point source pollution reduction projects, 1.6 billion KRW for total water pollution load management projects, 10.4 billion KRW for resident support projects, and 2.3 billion KRW for river garbage cleanup and water source management projects.

The fund is operated using water usage charges as its resource. The water usage charge is collected at 170 KRW per ton from final consumers who directly use raw water taken from the main stream sections of the Nakdong River or receive treated water.

Next year, 37.8 billion KRW in water usage charges will be levied on 14 cities and counties including Pohang and Gyeongju. Eight cities and counties such as Andong, which has two or more multipurpose dams, will be exempted from water usage charges considering activity restrictions and inconveniences to residents in water source protection zones, waterfront zones, and dam surrounding areas.

The province stated that it has created conditions to actively promote Nakdong River Basin water quality improvement projects by supplying clean water to downstream areas of the Nakdong River such as Daegu, Gyeongnam, Busan, and Ulsan, and supplementing the poor finances of cities and counties.

It will invest 10.4 billion KRW in 688 resident support projects including income increase, welfare enhancement, and support for tuition and utility bills for 640 households.

Choi Youngsook, Director of the Environment, Forestry and Resources Bureau, said, “We will do our best to secure funds for expanding environmental basic facilities, non-point source pollution reduction projects, and resident support projects to create a pleasant water environment through Nakdong River Basin water quality improvement.”

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