Water conservationists yesterday called on Tainan City Government to severely punish to people who allegedly occupied and illegally developed property around Jingmian Reservoir (鏡面水庫).
Environmental groups visited the National Property Administration’s (NPA) southern region branch in Tainan, demanding the agency investigate development of the government property and deal out appropriate punishment.
Environmental groups found that ground leveling work was carried out on a 2,400m2 plot of land directly adjacent to the reservoir during a field investigation last week, Fight for Health Women’s Group southern division director Chiu Chun-hua (邱春華) said.
The leveling, possibly pre-construction work, should not be done in a water reserve area, as rain could wash large amounts of topsoil into the reservoir, which supplies Tainan with drinking water, Chiu said.
Following the groups’ discovery, the Tainan Water Resources Bureau issued a NT$60,000 fine to the tenant, surnamed Chen (陳), for violation of the Soil and Water Conservation Act (水土保持法).
However, groups said the fine was too lenient, adding that there were other breaches involved, such as violations of the Drinking Water Management Act (飲用水管理條例) and the Water Supply Act (自來水法), as well as illegal occupation and exploitation of national property.
“We want the land be restored to its original status. We also call on the agency to protect national property, instead of taking action only after illegal activities have been exposed,” Chiu said.
NPA southern branch Director Lin Hsiu-chuan (林秀娟) said his office is still investigating the incident.
It is alleged that Chen did not carry out the leveling work and the agency is still investigating whether the land was occupied and used without Chen’s knowledge.
The land is reserved for agricultural purposes.
Lin said it would be used either as such or as a nature reserve after restoration works.
“The reservoir and surrounds are designated drinking water protection areas. The hilly terrain is protected by the Soil and Water Conservation Act, but those protections could not prevent it from being misappropriated and exploited. The city government, the agency and Taiwan Water Corp were clearly negligent in their duty,” Taiwan Water Resources Protection Union spokesperson Chen Jiau-hua (陳椒華) said, calling on prosecutors to launch an investigation.
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