Premier Lin Chuan said today that water management is a long-term issue that requires comprehensive planning, with central and local governments performing their respective duties and jointly promoting projects.
Speaking after a briefing by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) addressing water management strategies in response to climate change, Lin noted that back in 2006, the central government began addressing flood-prone areas, helping local governments carry out water management projects that achieved a measure of success, significantly reducing the number of areas subject to flooding. But 292 square kilometers of flood-prone land (approximately 25 percent of the original total) still await solutions.
The torrential rains at the beginning of this month caused severe flood damage because vast amounts of rain fell over a short period, exceeding existing drainage capacity. This disaster shows that climate change poses an unavoidable threat. To respond to this trend, the central government is responsible for continuing to carry out unfinished flood management projects to ensure the safety of human life and property, Lin said.
The premier also noted that the water management plans under the government's Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program include a water & security component that is not only necessary, but urgent, and should be accelerated. He therefore instructed the MOEA to conduct a systematic and comprehensive review and revision of water management plans to ensure optimal fund utilization.
In its briefing, the MOEA said that a special budget of NT$250.7 billion (US$8.32 billion) has been designated for water management projects under the Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program, of which NT$115.1 billion (US$ 3.82 billion) is earmarked for water & security projects. That includes NT$43.1 billion (US$1.43 billion) to improve drainage for rivers and districts managed by the central government and NT$72 billion (US$2.39 billion) for county and city-managed rivers and districts, which will include NT$ 24 billion (US$795.76 million) for sewers to improve urban flood prevention.
The water & security plan calls for improvements to 200 square kilometers of flood-prone land, construction of 250 kilometers of levees and storm sewers, drainage management for 120 kilometers or more for rivers and districts managed by the central government, and improvements to 16 kilometers or more of seawalls, efforts designed to manage water to prevent flooding and make land resources more resilient.