Efforts to alleviate land subsidence problems in Yunlin and Changhua counties are showing promising results, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said at a Cabinet meeting today.
At the meeting, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) reported on subsidence control measures while the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) reported on an embankment excavation project along a section of Provincial Highway No. 78.
The MOTC's project entails removing the earth-filled road embankments from a section of the highway in Yunlin and elevating the road with support pillars instead. This is expected to remove some 92,000 metric tons of weight and prevent further sinking of high speed rail columns in the area.
With the Directorate General of Highways (DGH) having completed the embankment removal, the premier asked the Bureau of High Speed Rail and the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. to continue monitoring after-effects on the rail columns. As for the support pillars, Jiang instructed the DGH keep close tabs on the construction to ensure a safe and early completion of the project.
The MOEA is developing new sources of groundwater from the Hushan Reservoir and the Niaozuitan Artificial Lake in an effort to cut public water pumping by 120 million tons. The Council of Agriculture (COA), meanwhile, is stepping up water conservation measures in an effort to slash groundwater usage among farmers by 330 million tons.
Premier Jiang asked the MOEA and COA to work with Yunlin and Changhua authorities and verify the actual number of wells under supervision, reported to have reached 310,000 at year-end 2013. Water from these wells should be used in a reasonable and lawful manner under the supervision of authorities. Local officials should also inspect and seal any new water wells to limit their numbers and to keep them from creating additional burden on the land.
The premier expressed thanks to Vice Premier Mao Chi-kuo and various ministers without portfolio for overseeing the various efforts and to central and local governments for working together. Jiang directed the agencies to continue their collaboration so as to finish all tasks on time and as planned.