On an inspection of water canal projects in Yunlin County in southern Taiwan today, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said the arrival of rainy season in May brings the threat of flood to coastal areas such as Mailiao, Taixi, Sihu and Kouhu. In the past, nearly every major storm or typhoon wreaked havoc and caused losses to residents, but since 2006 the government has injected NT$100 billion (US$3.35 billion) and eased flooding problems in these areas.
The premier pointed out that NT$600 million (US$20 million) have been spent over six years on the Xialun canal project. The first- and second-phase construction of water diversion and water-pumping stations have been completed, and when the flood control work is finished in November, residents can rest easy from the threat of floods, said the premier. He reiterated that it is the basic responsibility of the central and local governments to protect citizens from natural calamities such as floods and landslides. Aside from expressing gratitude to staff of the Water Resources Agency (WRA) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), the premier asked them to expedite progress on the flood control project. "This will not only prevent flooding but also alleviate land subsidence and reduce the need for underground water pumping," the premier added.
According to the MOEA, flood control work on the Xialun canal system consists of flood diversion, storage, mitigation and detention. This multi-strategy approach will achieve the equivalent of a 10-year project in a shorter timeframe and safeguard this densely populated area from flooding for 25 years. Crews will work on drainage areas, bridges, water gates, water pump stations and detention ponds. The project is expected to reduce flooding on over 426 hectares and protect more than 15,000 people.
Later in the day, the premier headed to Taichung to inspect an environment improvement project along the Hanxi canal. Several years ago, the central government allocated a special budget for flood-prone areas that has significantly improved flood control and beautified the surroundings. Jiang said he was very pleased with the aesthetic landscaping of the section, which sits across from National Chung Hsing University. With cooperation from the WRA and education institutions and backed by the central and Taichung City governments, the Hanxi canal project is expected to deliver exciting results, he said.
Premier Jiang cited the Cheonggyecheon stream in the heart of Seoul, South Korea, as a successful case. Restoring this previously unattractive drainage system into an eco-friendly water facility gives tourists a good impression of the city as well as the local government.
The MOEA noted that the Hanxi canals make up a typical metropolitan drainage system, traversing the Dali City urban and non-urban planning areas as well as the Taichung City urban planning district. To improve the landscape along both sides of the canal, greenery and beautification works will be carried out to provide recreational spaces for residents.