Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, "Development of Nakdong River Water Intake Source Requires Resident Consent"

Ministry of Environment Emphasizes Need for Active Communication with Residents in Water Intake Areas

"While we agree with the necessity of the projects promoted by the government, the positions and intentions of the residents in the water intake areas must never be ignored or distorted."

On the 7th, Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, said this during a meeting with Park Jae-hyun, Director of the Water Integration Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Environment.

According to Gyeongnam Province, Governor Park discussed the current issues of the Nakdong River water intake source diversification project, which focuses on water intake from Hwanggang in Hapcheon and the development of riverbank filtration water in Changnyeong, and agreed to play a mediating role between the Ministry of Environment and the residents of the water intake areas.

The "Nakdong River Basin Safe Drinking Water Supply System Establishment Project" aims to develop 450,000 tons each of return flow water from Hwanggang in Hapcheon and riverbank filtration water from Changnyeong, supplying 480,000 tons daily primarily to Gyeongnam and 420,000 tons to Busan.

It passed the preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Economy and Finance in June last year and was confirmed as a government-promoted project.

Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province (center right seat), is meeting with Park Jae-hyun, Director of Water Integration Policy at the Ministry of Environment (top left), to discuss cooperation plans related to the diversification project of the Nakdong River water intake sources.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

The province proposed the formation of a public-private consultative body to the Ministry of Environment in August 2022 to listen to local residents' opinions, which was launched in November of the same year.

In December, the province stated its position that the Ministry of Environment should not execute detailed design expenses without residents' consent and countermeasures in place.

On this day, Governor Park conveyed the opinions of residents and the countermeasure committee he heard while visiting Changnyeong, Hapcheon, and Geochang areas to Director Park, urging a thorough execution of the feasibility study currently being promoted by the Ministry of Environment.

He said, "A precise analysis of the available water intake volume and the residents' water usage shortfall in Hapcheon and Changnyeong areas is necessary," and added, "At the initial stage of the feasibility study, the Ministry of Environment should operate a technical advisory group of external experts recommended by the region to verify the task contents."

"Please actively communicate so that the residents of the water intake areas can trust the government's Nakdong River water intake source diversification project," he said, adding, "The province will provide administrative support to resume the public-private consultative body centered on representatives of the water intake area residents."

Director Park responded, "During the feasibility study, we will identify as many alternatives as possible to prepare measures without harm," and requested Gyeongnam Province's efforts and cooperation as a mediator between the government and the region.

Governor Park emphasized, "Regarding project promotion, residents' consent in the water intake areas must be obtained through the feasibility study, and there must be no harm to the residents of the water intake areas."

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