The Kaohsiung City Government has asked the Bureau of Energy to cancel permits for a controversial solar panel project, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said today.
This comes after the city’s Economic Development Bureau said in a news release that the Dashu District (大樹) solar photovoltaic project's developer had contravened soil and water conservation procedures and constructed in a non-developable zone, leading to sediment runoff and erosion.
The case was referred to prosecutors for investigation and the city has ordered that development be halted, the news release said.
Photo: Taipei Times
Kaohsiung’s position is clear, Chen said in an interview today.
In addition to canceling permits, the city is hoping that the National Land Management Agency revokes the zoning classification for the land allocated to the project, Chen said.
Kaohsiung must reassess the project with public safety and people’s livelihoods as the top priority, he said.
The developer should restore the pre-existing environment and landscape, the city government said, adding that it sent a letter to the Ministry of the Interior asking that the land be rezoned to its original classification to allow for its restoration.
Since the soil and water conservation plan was approved for the project, city supervisors have conducted 15 inspections of the project's conservation efforts, the city government said.
During those inspections, officials found seven contraventions and fined the company NT$1.08 million (US$36,538), it said, adding that it ordered a halt to construction last month.
The city government said it found that the developer had built in areas not zoned for construction and exceeded its approved development area by two hectares.
On June 6, the Energy Administration conducted an inspection and confirmed prior contraventions, which resulted in the city fining the developer NT$300,000 for contravening the Regional Plan Act (區域計畫法).
Kaohsiung’s agencies have reported the issues to the authorities and are seeking to undo the environmental damage, the city government said.
If the developer applies for another power generation license before the improvements are completed, the city would not provide supporting documents, it said.
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