Suhua decision not final: Chang

Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) yesterday dismissed media reports that construction of the Suhua Freeway had received the go-ahead after the Environmental Impact Assessment committee conditionally approved the project during a meeting on Monday.

Chang construction will not commence until the proposed freeway passes a full environmental impact review by the environmental review committee under the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA).

"It was the case committee that conditionally approved the Suhua Freeway [construction] yesterday, but it only approved work in the mountain areas; an environmental impact review for work in the plains is still required," Chang said when approached for comment outside the legislature.

Chang the Cabinet would deal with the project in accordance with the law after it completes the environmental impact review process.

The committee's conditional approval of the project on Monday has raised public concern and speculation in the media that the freeway, which was proposed more than a decade ago to connect the cities of Ilan and Hualien, may start construction by the end of this year.

The project has received mixed reviews, as its supporters, including Hualien tourism associations and Aboriginal legislators, say the freeway would bring economic prosperity to the east coast.

Opposition however, question the necessity of the freeway, saying the project would impede national plans for sustainable development of the east.

Chang suggestions that the decision was related to the election while fielding questions from Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chiang Lien-fu (江連福) yesterday morning.

EPA Winston Dang (陳重信) dismissed media speculation that the agency would make a final decision before the presidential inauguration on May 20.

Dang, however, said the committee members did reach a consensus about the need to build a safe freeway in eastern Taiwan during Monday's meeting, adding that the committee hoped the Ministry of Transportation and Communications would prioritize the construction of the road between Suao (蘇澳) and Chungte (崇德).

`BIG MOVE'

Meanwhile, KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday urged the government to avoid making a "big move" prior to the presidential election.

"A caretaker government should be more cautious in managing such issues," he said when asked for comments.

"It's inappropriate for a caretaker government to make any rash moves," Ma said.

The KMT candidate said other transportation plans and supplementary measures, including limiting the number of trucks on highways and improving the quality of railways, should be put in place, adding that even if the government decides to build the freeway, it would take at least a decade to complete it.

At a separate setting, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) said he thought there was room for discussion as the committee had requested the contractor prioritize construction of the section of the freeway that runs through mountain areas and assess the social impact on the lowlands before proceeding.

During the first televised presidential debate on Feb. 24, Hsieh said the proposed freeway required careful assessment and thorough discussion.

It is not necessary to rush construction, Hsieh said, as the development of eastern Taiwan does not necessarily have mimic that in the west.

Hsieh the NT$90 billion (US$2.87 billion) budget earmarked for the project must not be diverted elsewhere, but could be used for a project that he proposed during his stint as premier to improve the transportation system on the east coast.

Additional reporting by Ko Shu-ling and Mo Yan-chih