Premier Jiang Yi-huah praised the government's recent flood prevention efforts today while visiting the Dawuding pumping station in Jiadong Township, Pingtung County to inspect the area's water control system.
The eight-year, NT$80 billion (US$2.7 billion) Regulation Project of Flood-prone Areas has been quite successful, the premier said, and following evaluation of the program the Executive Yuan decided to approve the six-year, NT$60 billion (US$2.0 billion) comprehensive drainage basin management project.
"I look forward to central and local governments working hand-in-hand to eradicate flooding," he remarked.
Typhoon Morakot caused flooding in Jiadong as well as nearby Linbian Township in 2009, noted Jiang, who was Minister of the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission at the time. "When I went south to survey the damage, I could only see an expanse of water. The flooding lasted a long time: 16 days," he stated.
After the disaster, however, the government moved forward with its water control plan, progressively completing engineering projects and improving preparedness, the premier said. As a result, while 8,924 homes were flooded by Typhoon Morakot, only 351 were flooded by Typhoon Fanapi in 2010, and not a single home was submerged by Typhoon Nanmadol in 2011, Typhoon Tembin in 2012 or Tropical Storm Kong-Rey in 2013. "This success stems from these water control projects," he stated.
Unlike past flood control strategies, which primarily focused on emergency response, the comprehensive drainage basin management project takes a macro perspective to land conservation and management, the premier said. This includes stepping up other water management practices, such as reducing groundwater pumping by aquaculture areas, preventing the planting of crop species that are easily damaged by flooding and promoting joint maintenance of bridges and rivers.
"In order to confront climate change, which could increase the incidence of flooding due to sudden torrential rainfall, not only traditional engineering such as pumping stations and dikes but also new detention ponds and attendant legislation as well as reformed bridge specifications are needed," Jiang affirmed.
"Furthermore, densely populated areas must adopt the 'sponge city' concept so the water they take in can be temporarily stored and drained slowly.
"I hope that local governments will continue to budget funds for long-term maintenance and operation of water control projects in order to eradicate flooding and give citizens a peaceful and prosperous lifestyle," he concluded.
To resolve drainage problems and decrease flooding of villages, homes and fish farms in Linbian and Jiadong, the Seventh River Management Office of the Ministry of Economic Affairs' (MOEA) Water Resources Agency implemented the Regulation Project of Flood-prone Areas to help the Pingtung County Government expedite drainage engineering improvements for the Linbian River and its tributaries.
At a cost of NT$1.1 billion (US$37 million), systems, trunk sewers, outlets and pumping stations were overhauled during the project, which was completed in late August. The 7,497 meters of drainage lines, 2,263 meters of diversion ditches and three pumping stations created can effectively dam and divert water from high ground and pump water out of low ground to reduce the risk of flooding, the MOEA said.
The comprehensive drainage basin management project has been sent to the Legislature for deliberation.