Premier Mao Chi-kuo today asked government ministries to tighten policies and measures for the current drought so as to minimize impact on the public and agricultural businesses.
At a meeting of the Central Disaster Prevention and Response Council, Mao said the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and the Council of Agriculture (COA) have already activated mechanisms in response to the dry spell. He asked other agencies to support the various measures and work as a team.
After the MOEA and COA reported on their response measures, Mao noted that this drought is the worst in a decade. In September, the MOEA launched water conservation and drought prevention measures ahead of schedule and prompted households and businesses to save water. The actions made it possible for the year's second rice crops to be fully irrigated, preventing any loss to farmers.
With no relief in sight, the Water Resources Agency and the COA are making plans to suspend farming and irrigation. At present, the short-term goal is to stabilize water supplies to households and business through the Lunar New Year in mid-February. The long-term goal is to avoid activating the third-phase plan (water rationing) before the plum rains arrive late May.
For public facilities that are under first-phase water restrictions, non-essential water use (for swimming pools or rinsing building walls) will be suspended beginning January 5 to more effectively conserve water resources.
Meanwhile, the premier asked the MOEA, COA and other central and local agencies to communicate drought measures to the public. Government at all levels should join hands and encourage citizens to continue saving water, he said.
Today's meeting also heard other reports relating to disaster prevention. Regarding the appointment of a competent authority over industrial pipeline disasters, Premier Mao designated the MOEA as the competent authority and instructed the ministry to swiftly submit plans to the Central Disaster Prevention and Response Committee for approval.
As for the achievements of the Relieve Disaster Foundation, Mao thanked the foundation for integrating society's resources toward various disaster relief tasks, which has supplemented government efforts to rebuild lives and homes for disaster victims. The premier asked the foundation to continue using private donations wisely and to help the government coordinate civic groups providing assistance and reconstruction during times of disaster.
Regarding the Executive Yuan's disaster prevention applications technology program, Premier Mao said many ministries have been engaging in the research and development of disaster-preparedness technological applications. Over the years, Taiwan's technologies against typhoons and severe precipitation have matured to world-class, exportable levels. For the second phase of the program, Mao hopes the ministries will refine their technologies and continue pushing research for disaster-mitigation work and industrial applications.
Prior to the meeting, the premier presented annual awards to local governments with outstanding performance in disaster prevention and rescue promotion. He congratulated and commended the winning counties and cities, asking all local governments to demand higher standards in disaster policies and measures.