Seosamsuk 'Calls for Government-wide Measures as Drinking Water in Island Areas is Threatened'

Presidential Office, Deputy Prime Minister for Economy, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Propose Drought Damage Support Measures

[Sinan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Jae-kyung] Seo Sam-seok, a member of the National Assembly Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Fisheries Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea (Yeongam, Muan, Sinan), delivered the "Request for Support Measures for Drought Damage in the Agricultural Sector" to the Presidential Office, Deputy Prime Minister for Economy, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on the 21st.

On the same day, at the full meeting of the Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Fisheries Committee, Seo said, "The drought situation in the southern regions including Jeonnam, especially the island areas, is so severe that it threatens not only agricultural water but also drinking water, making it urgent to prepare prompt measures at the whole-of-government level."

Currently, the drought is concentrated in the southern regions such as Jeonnam, where the situation is the most severe in terms of rainfall and reservoir levels, resulting in concentrated damage in Jeonnam.

From May 15 to November 14 this year, the nationwide cumulative rainfall was 930mm, which is 91% of the average 1,019mm, but Jeonnam recorded only 607.5mm, about 60% of the average.

As of November 9 this year, the reservoir level in Jeonnam was 45%, the lowest nationwide, compared to the national average of 65%. By city and county in Jeonnam, Sinan was at 39%, Hampyeong 36%, Jangseong 37%, Naju 38%, and Damyang 35%, showing an extreme water shortage situation with reservoir levels below 40%.

The drought damage area of 1,442 hectares that occurred this year was all in Jeonnam, with Sinan accounting for 1,238 hectares, which is 86% of Jeonnam's drought damage.

The Yeongsan River IV District project for supplying agricultural water has been insufficient and currently provides no assistance to the drought situation in island areas such as Sinan.

Originally planned as a 7-year project from 2001 to 2007 with a budget of 780 billion KRW, the plan was changed in 2019 to a 27-year project from 2001 to 2027 with an expanded budget of 970 billion KRW.

As the completion date has been significantly delayed, among the four counties targeted for water supply by the Yeongsan River IV District project?Muan, Hampyeong, Sinan, and Yeonggwang?Sinan and Yeonggwang have zero water supply areas.

To complete the project by 2027, an annual budget of at least 50 billion KRW is required, but only 32 billion KRW was reflected in the 2023 government budget proposal, making budget increase urgent.

Through the request letter sent to the government, Seo proposed ▲ rapid support for the installation of agricultural infrastructure to overcome drought such as medium and large wells, simple pumping stations, and water transmission pipelines ▲ priority support for drought-affected areas through special grants from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety ▲ expansion of the Yeongsan River IV District project budget for mid- to long-term drought countermeasures.

Finally, Seo Sam-seok said, "Despite repeatedly urging the government for active responses to drought, the necessary measures that should have been prepared earlier have not been properly established, causing residents to suffer damage," adding, "If the drought continues into next spring, more serious damage is expected to spread, so I strongly urge the preparation of countermeasures at the whole-of-government level once again."

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