W22tr set aside to restore rivers

The government will spend a combined 22.2 trillion won ($17.8 billion) to improve water quality and prevent natural disasters on the nation`s four major rivers by 2012, officials said yesterday.

16.9 trillion won will go to the main projects - dredging operations, building dams and reservoirs - on the Han, Nakdong, Geum and Yeongsan rivers. Officials said another 5.3 trillion won will be spent to enhance water flow and quality on smaller waterways.

The four-river restoration is a core project of the "Green New Deal" policy pushed by the Lee Myung-bak government since late last year. The government plans to achieve eco-friendly economic growth with a massive injection of public funds.

Under the plan, the government will remove mud from the bottom of the rivers, as well as build two small and medium-sized dams and 16 reservoirs that can secure 1.3 billion tons of fresh water.



The large-scale, state-led construction work will also make the rivers able to contain 920 million tons of water, enough to prevent floods. Annually, Korea spends 4.2 trillion won on recovery measures for flood damage, officials explained.

Water quality will be improved to the "Grade 2" level at which most aquatic life can be sustained. The construction work will begin in October.

"The four-river restoration project will be a founding work for Korea to become one of the top water management countries in the world. The project will develop the nation`s technologies on water resources and management while encouraging Korean companies to make inroads," said Shim Myung-pil, head of the Office of National River Restoration at the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs.

The Environment Ministry, Culture Ministry and Agriculture Ministry will take part in the project, which officials said is to promote the "green growth" of the local economy. The Culture Ministry will develop cultural and tourism resources while the Environment Ministry helps restore the eco-system near rivers.

The Agriculture Ministry will turn villages located near rivers into recreational spots for visitors where they can experience farm life.

The rivers are to become centers for leisure.

The waterfront of the rivers will have bicycle lanes along the river extending 1,206 kilometers, with another 522 kilometers of paths along the tributaries.

The plans for river restoration projects may invite criticism from environmentalists and opposition parties, though.

Critics say the plan is a prelude to a cross-country canal construction that Lee ditched last year in the face of strong opposition.

Environmentalists claim that the massive construction work could destroy the existing eco-life.

Officials denied speculation that the project would be part of the canal plan.

"There are still many who claim the project as a preliminary work of the Grand Canal scheme. But no, we don`t even have time for another plan," Shim told reporters.

He said the river plan did not include works needed for a canal such as adjusting the depth and width of the rivers and building terminals and other facilities for transport, he added.

"To make boat operations possible, we have to lead the water flow in straight lines. But we have no plans for that and will leave the path of the river as natural as it is," Shim said.

Reports, however, said the additional 3 trillion won allocated for building reservoirs and large-scale dredging operations are enough to explain the government`s ambition to realize the canal plan.

The rivers can operate boats by securing a certain water depth through dredging operations and build terminals and other necessary facilities later on, experts said.

The government is separately pushing ahead with building the Gyeongin Canal to expand commercial use of the Han River by linking Seoul with the West Sea.

(christory@heraldm.com)



By Cho Chung-un