President Chen Shui-bian (
The assessments, which gauge a construction project's impact on its surrounding environment, have proved too much of a burden and have slowed investment plans, some business leaders say.
Chen said yesterday that local-level government officials should do everything in their power to remove the "rocks" in the way.
"I would get down on my knees and beg those local government officials for these businesses, if necessary," Chen said while touring a high-tech park in Taoyuan County.
Quanta Computer Inc (
Lam called the procedures for gaining approval of an environmental impact assessment "dubious." He said the procedures typically demand that companies jump too a high a hurdle.
Chen said that he was aware standards upheld by environmental officials were extremely high.
"[Environmental impact assessments] have obviously restricted some companies' development," Chen said. He added that "all the rocks" that have blocked the way of companies' investment projects should be removed immediately.
Lam said that government red tape has prevented Quanta Display, a TFT-LCD panel maker and unit of Quanta, from fully ramping up production according to schedule.
The executive said Quanta had successfully completed trial production in January and wanted to begin mass production the following month -- but it has yet to receive a license for its operations from local authorities.
But because of disagreements with local officials over the company's environmental impact assessment, Quanta has been unable to get up to speed, and LCD panels from the company's January trial sit in warehouses unable to be sold.
Chen said he supported Quanta in its efforts and put the blame on local officials, saying government officials had not attended scheduled meetings with the company and had asked to the firm to repeat steps it had already completed.Also See EPA Inside
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