- Ha Seong-sik, governor of Haman County -
During this jangma(summer rainy season in Korea), there was no specific inundation damage.
Do you think the water level diminished as much as you could obviously recognize?
Presumably the effect of dredging work turned out. Comparing the past years’ precipitation, it seemed that water level went down over 2m in the main stream and tributaries of the Nakdong River. Residents also witness the phenomenon of quickening velocity and lowered water level.
Nevertheless, some people keep raising a question on the effect of dredge and insist there is still waterlogging damage.
That’s not true. Whenever we met the residents in jurisdiction to hear their voices, they unanimously say that they could be safe from little inundation damage thanks to the dredge even under torrential downpour of average 340mm in July 9. The majority of the residents and I agree on that.
In some areas in Gyeongbuk Province, there were inundation damages despite the Project. Was there any damage in jurisdiction?
In our county, there was no flooded house around the Project area. However, regardless of the Project, there was a small damage report out of torrential ainfall. That was proved due to bad drainage system; two spots with seven houses. Four houses are in Eungam-ri, Beopsu-myeon, where has been inundation-prone area. And other three houses were slightly waterlogged because of low ground. Nonetheless, there was no damage around the area related to the Project.
In the past, to what extent did you have damages from inundation?
From September 11 to 13, 2003, typhoon Maemi wreaked havoc on properties damage of KRW 58.3 billion, ruining houses with making 148 households into victims. The damages included in private properties in KRW 23.3 billion and public property in KRW 78 billion. Of course, there are many environmental factors to reckon, this year’s estimated damage from torrential rainfall is KRW 0.6 billion in publicity and merely KRW 84 million in private parts. It is not nearly as much as recent other years.
There is a Nakdong River Special Committee’s lingering claim that farmland would be affected by the change of underground water level. For this issue, what is the residents’ opinion?
Not having scrutinized with an in-depth survey on the public sentiment, it is not available to say in detail. However, so to generalize the reactions of residents in the briefing session on the result of rendering service for Nakdong River Restoration work, I reckon that people’s sentiment seemed to be positive.
Tell us please about any farsighted plan for post-Four River Restoration Project and vision of Haman County.
Through the Project, Twelve Views were designated as tourist attraction. Affiliating that, we want to hold fast to another thirteen scenic views of Haman County. Raising the PR effects, we want to develop tourism resource with themes and storytelling method. To attain above, we will construct a horse-riding track in the Beopsu-myeon as well as Ara Gaya waterway. All of them will be not only for local residents’ amusement with recreation activities but also excellent tourism attraction for visitors.
