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Rough waters hit 4-river plans at Assembly

Published: 07 Oct. 2009, 08:10

Chung Jong-hwan, right, minister of land, transport and maritime affairs, listens to questions about the ‘four river project’ at a National Assembly audit yesterday at the ministry office in the central government complex in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi. By Kim Hyung-soo

Some lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties demanded the government stop its ambitious plan to revive four major Korean rivers, raising suspicion about the credibility of the environmental impact assessment and the possibility of a drinking water shortage.

Those lawmakers - including Kim Sang-hee, Kim Jae-yun and Won Hye-young - said at a routine hearing at the National Assembly that 25 of 92 total water intake sources on the four rivers should either be relocated or be altered.

That means a total of 1.3 million people could be threatened with water shortages and that manufacturing operations in neighboring areas could be suspended.

Park Dae-hae of the ruling Grand National Party questioned the environmental impact assessment of the four rivers - the Han, Nakdong, Geum and Yeongsan.

“Under ordinary circumstances, the environmental feasibility test takes around 11 to 12 months. But since the assessment for the four-river project was finalized in a matter of four months, many people are wondering if they should really trust the results,” said Park to the Environment Minister and ministry officials.

Kim Sung-soon from the DP took issue with a separate topic.

Disclosing documents he had acquired from the Korea Water Resources Corp., he said the government’s intent to have the state-run Korea Water Resources Corp. run the four-river project is “illegal” since the project is not part of the corporation’s responsibilities.

The company is supposed to provide 8 trillion won ($6.8 billion) for the river-improving project, an amount that is more than half of the social overhead capital budget that the Land Ministry has allocated for the project.

Legal consulting last year at the request of the public firm concluded that it was illegal for a public firm to take the government job. “Korea Water Resources Corp. has surrendered to the government pressure at a cost of 8 trillion won,” Kim said.

As one of nine major development works, the administration plans to spend 18 trillion won to strengthen the capability of four main river systems nationwide by building dams, reservoirs and other water-management facilities through 2012.

However, the Environment Ministry asked the Land Ministry late last month to reassess the predicted changes in water quality after the work is complete and to develop measures to make improvements, if necessary. The request could change the schedule and budget of the project.

By Seo Ji-eun [[email protected]]