Tue, Sep 05, 2000 page2

• Environmental issues yet to be solved at TSIP

  • By Chiu Yu-tzu / STAFF REPORTER
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  One of the characteristics of an ideal science-based industrial park described by Weng Cheng-I (翁政義), chairman of the National Science Council (NSC), is that it would have no negative impact on neighboring communities.

  "Instead, a science-based industrial park should be able to promote development in such areas," Weng said last week, when he visited the Tainan Science-based Industrial Park (TSIP, 台南科學工業園區).

  Whether Weng's wishes can be realized at the park remains to be seen. Ongoing local opposition to the establishment of a joint waste management center for firms in the park, however, offers possible clues.

  "I never thought that the park would be a benefit to neighboring communities," Chen Jun-tin (陳俊廷), warden of Nankuan Borough (南關里), told the Taipei Times.

  Nankuan borough, Shanhua township (善化鎮), is one of 21 neighboring communities affected by the establishment of the park.

  Chen said that he had requested the park's development office (籌備處) repair roads damaged by trucks carrying construction materials but received no response.

  "None of more than 100 resumes I passed on to the development office were picked by any firm in the park," Chen said, adding that the park seemed to block job opportunities for local residents.

  A recent hot issue discussed by residents from 21 boroughs neighboring the park was compensation for a waste incinerator, which can burn 80 tonnes of industrial waste per day, located at the park's joint waste management center, covering 7 hectares of land.

  Chen insisted that more than 3,000 residents of Nankuan deserved half of the compensation because they shared 40 percent of the area's border with the park.

  "In addition, Nankuan residents should constitute half the members of a monitoring committee on the waste management center," Chen said.

  Not only local residents, but also local government representatives are keeping their eyes on the joint waste management center.

  At a meeting conducted by the park's development office in late August, Hu Jui-nan (胡瑞男), head of Shanhua township office, expressed the residents' opposition to the waste management center but said that there was scope for negotiation if household waste generated in Shanhua was allowed to be treated at the center.

  Hou Shui-sheng (侯水盛), a former National Assembly member and local resident, said residents would welcome compensation.

  Facing local opposition, TSIP officials told the Taipei Times that more efficient communication needed to be conducted.

  "Residents have no need to worry about the center because its comprehensive facilities can treat and store waste properly," said Tai Chien (戴謙), director of the park's development office.

  Tai said that they would be willing to offer compensation to residents even though the park had debts of NT$17.2 billion.

  The office hopes that construction of the joint waste management center, costing NT$400 million, will commence this month and will be completed in June.

  Representatives of firms in the park said they were expecting the establishment of the joint waste management center.

  "Before the waste management center is completed, all we can do is store waste at our factory sites to await proper treatment at a future date," said Jo Shen (馬海怡), president and chief executive officer of ScinoPharm Taiwan, Ltd (台灣神隆), a pharmaceutical research and manufacturing center already operating in the park.

  TSIP officials said that all waste created by firms inside the park would be treated properly within the confines of the TSIP.

  "The park can be ecologically friendly. It won't damage the environment for people or wildlife in any way," Tai said.

  Chen, as warden of Nankuan borough, said that he would invite TSIP officials to attend a meeting scheduled for Sept. 15 to discuss controversial matters relating to the establishment of the joint waste management treatment center, including compensation and possible preferential treatment.

  Chen said they also opposed the establishment of power plants nearby on environmental grounds.

  "Our voice should have not been ignored," Chen said.

  "This is our home town. why should we be deprived by new settlers from outside?" Chen said.
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