Premier Jiang Yi-huah visited Taitung County today to inspect local public works projects, including a flight school for hot air ballooning and a dust control project along the Beinan River.
While inspecting the flight school in Luye Township, the premier affirmed the county government's efforts in promoting hot air balloon tourism. He hopes Taitung County will develop the school into a cradle for hot air ballooning events in Taiwan as well as an internationally respected facility for certifying and training pilots.
After being briefed on plans to move utility poles underground in areas where hot air balloons frequently take off and land, Premier Jiang said that accidents can easily occur if balloons come in contact with the wires or poles. He therefore asked the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), Council of Agriculture and Taiwan Power Co. to form a special task force to look into these safety issues. The task force should also help promote tourism by setting aside annual budgets and helping county officials plan and assess the areas that require priority attention.
As for dust problems along the Beinan River, Jiang urged the MOEA to launch inter-ministerial efforts and come up with sophisticated engineering solutions to minimize sandstorms by covering more of the riverbed with water, thus improving residents' quality of life.