Listening to Residents' Opinions... Gyeongnam Province Forms 'Nakdonggang Water Intake Diversification Project Public-Private Consultative Body'

Communication with water intake and beneficiary area residents, and preparation of damage countermeasures

Gyeongnam Provincial Government. / Ryeong Lee ryeong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Gyeongsangnam-do has formed a public-private consultative body to gather opinions from residents in the Nakdong River water intake area.

On the 3rd, Gyeongnam Province announced that it had completed the formation of a public-private consultative body related to the government's ongoing project, the "Nakdong River Basin Safe Drinking Water Supply System Establishment Project."

The Nakdong River Basin Safe Drinking Water Supply System Establishment Project was confirmed as a government project after passing the preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance on June 30.

Gyeongnam Province opposed the project, stating that the preliminary feasibility study passed without fulfilling the conditions for project promotion, such as obtaining consent and communication procedures with local residents in the water intake area.

On August 9, the province judged that the formation of a government-led public-private consultative body to collect opinions from local residents was necessary to promote the project.

Accordingly, it proposed the formation of a public-private consultative body involving the Ministry of Environment, Gyeongnam Province, related cities and counties, the Korea Water Resources Corporation, resident representatives, and local councils?all stakeholders in the project.

According to the province, the newly formed "Public-Private Consultative Body for Communication on the Nakdong River Water Intake Diversification Project" includes officials from the province, Hapcheon County, and Changnyeong County, council members, resident representatives, and officials from the Ministry of Environment and Busan City as committee members.

Geochang County, which had consistently requested inclusion in the consultative body, will attend meetings as a non-member to express opinions for the time being.

If it is recognized during the operation of the consultative body that the Nakdong River water intake diversification project affects Geochang County, officials, council members, and resident representatives from Geochang County will be included as members of the consultative body.

The public-private consultative body, which is scheduled to hold its first regular meeting in November this year, will hold regular meetings at least once every quarter in principle and convene extraordinary meetings when necessary.

A provincial official said, "Going forward, through the public-private consultative body, we will prepare practical damage countermeasures acceptable to residents in the water intake area and proceed with the resident consent procedures while continuously communicating with the Ministry of Environment and local residents."

He added, "To supply clean and safe water to the residents of the province, we will actively convey the opinions of not only the water intake areas but also the beneficiary areas. The province will do its best to faithfully serve as an intermediary so that sufficient discussion and coordination can take place within the public-private consultative body."

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