Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei City councilor Hsu Chia-ching (徐佳青) yesterday alleged that the Taipei City Government allowed a contractor for the Maokong Gondola to pocket NT$16 million (US$494,000) — money that was originally set aside to ensure water quality at the site.
Hsu said the city government commissioned the Chun Yuan Construction Company to oversee the soil and water quality of the cable car service, but failed to provide the necessary fortifications for the pillar. Despite the substandard job, the city government made a payment of NT$25 million, even though the final bill was NT$8.74 million, Hsu said.
Taipei City Secretariat Deputy Director Tan Gwa-guang (譚國光) dismissed the allegations.
Tan said the NT$25 million budget for water conservation included construction materials, at NT$12 million, temporary paths and project review fees.
Taipei City spokesman Chao Hsin-ping (趙心屏) said the water conservation project began in 2006 and the city government has offered explanations on many occasions.
Chao said the city government welcomed the city councilors’ supervision, adding that Hsu should file a lawsuit against the city government if she believed there were any illegalities.
Meanwhie, DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday met DPP Taipei City Councilor Hung Chien-yi (洪健益) and supported his efforts to scrutinize the city government.
Earlier this week, Hung had a heated debate with the city government over the Maokong Gondola, with the city government accusing Hung of staging a “fake news report” about the area’s security.
DPP spokesman Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟) relayed Tsai’s remarks that the city government’s strong reaction to Hung’s allegations could serve to intimidate other councilors to speak out against it.
The DPP will not interfere in the clash between Hung and the city government, but Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) owes the public an explanation on security of the now defunct gondola, Chao quoted Tsai as saying.
If Hau was confident that Hung had falsified evidence, the city government is welcome to seek redress through the legal process, but not by trying to ruin Hung’s image through the air waves, Chao said.
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