Yeongsan River Basin 'Unreasonable Practices to Be Improved'... Jeonnam Provincial Council Proposes Four Key Issues to Environmental Office

Calls for Flexible Readjustment of Water Source Protection Zones
and Expansion of Undergrowth Removal in National Rivers

The Jeonnam Provincial Council's Special Committee on Watershed Management visited the Yeongsan River Basin Environmental Office to propose focused institutional improvements for key issues, aiming to enhance the water quality management system of the Yeongsan River basin and expand support for local residents.

On December 11, the Council announced that the Special Committee had recently met with Kim Youngwoo, Director of the Yeongsan River Basin Environmental Office, and delivered four major issues concerning the Yeongsan River basin.

The Jeonnam Provincial Council's Special Committee on Watershed Management visited the Yeongsan River Basin Environmental Office to improve the water quality management system of the Yeongsan River basin and expand support for residents. Provided by Jeonnam Provincial Council

The proposals included: ▲ expanding direct support payments to residents ▲ transferring the authority to operate the watershed management fund to Jeonnam Province ▲ readjusting water source protection zones ▲ and strengthening the removal and management of undergrowth in national rivers.

Chairman Jung Younggyun pointed out that only 11.6% of the watershed management fund is allocated to resident support projects, emphasizing, "Based on examples from other watersheds, the upper limit for direct support payments to households should be raised to a maximum of 3.5 million won per household to ensure meaningful compensation."

In response, Director Kim Youngwoo stated, "We will actively review ways to increase the amount as soon as conditions allow."

The Special Committee also noted, "The current method of fund disbursement, where cities and counties receive funds directly from the Environmental Office, causes considerable confusion on the ground," and requested a switch to a 'provincial intermediary' system so that Jeonnam Province can responsibly carry out monitoring and auditing functions. The Environmental Office explained, "Although this matter requires inter-agency consultation, we will discuss it closely at the working level to develop specific solutions."

Additionally, the Special Committee called for flexible readjustment of water source protection zones, citing the need to remove or reduce zones that have already lost their function as water sources and to secure drinking water sources in vulnerable areas such as island regions. The Environmental Office stated, "We will thoroughly review the issues raised and seek ways to minimize damage to residents."

To prevent flood damage caused by extreme rainfall, the Special Committee also proposed expanding the removal of undergrowth in national rivers, increasing national funding support, and easing the criteria for designating river drainage impact zones. The Environmental Office promised to make watershed projects mandatory in future national river master plans and to pursue improvements to related regulations.

A Council official stated, "We will continue field-oriented activities to establish a sustainable watershed management system for the Yeongsan River basin," adding that they plan to actively address local issues and improve the quality of life for residents.

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