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Will the Forward-Looking Plan Allow Taiwan to Avoid Water Shortages or Flooding?

icon2017/06/07
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 Will the Forward-Looking Plan Allow Taiwan to Avoid Water Shortages or Flooding?

United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)

June 4, 2017

 Translation of an Except

On June 2nd, monsoon rainstorms wreaked havoc everywhere in northern Taiwan; then the front moved southward. Central and south Taiwan should be vigilant for disasters from the torrential rains. President Tsai wanted the ruling and opposition parties to support the Forward-looking Plan, pushing for water environment construction, "allowing Taiwan to avoid water shortages and flooding." The water environment item will spend funds next only to rail construction, but can it prevent serious droughts due to extreme climate change? Can it prevent disasters caused by flash-flooding after torrential rains?

In Taiwan's environmental conditions, to avoid flooding, there are two prerequisites: first, control the mountains, and then control the floods. Secondly, regional management: upstream tributaries gradually converge into main tributaries, and discharge into rivers downstream. Management must cover the entire region and the entire water system. The fundamental concept of flood control is nothing but allowing water to have a path to traverse and space to stay. What should be given to the rivers for their water course should not be occupied for crop cultivation reserved for higher ground and should not be straightened at will, compressing the space for water. However, local government chiefs who are experts in asking for money only know how to spend huge sums of funds to build embarkments for flood control. Once huge floods overflow the embarkments, as happens when the floods exceed the expected levels, the end results will not only be beggar thy neighbor, it could even cause losses of lives and property.

This time, the torrential rains which fell in northern Taiwan in one day reached a quarter of Taiwan’s annual precipitation. In fact, Taiwan this year experienced a winter with the second least rainfall in 70 years. From January 1st to the end of May, the rainfall everywhere did not reach much over 500 mm, which would barely maintain the average for the use of both agriculture and industry in northern Taiwan. In the counties in south Taiwan, the rainfall was not even 150 mm, frequently without a drop of rain in some months.

Confronted with the challenges of extreme climate change, the wholesomeness of the water environment is critically important. Both the ruling and opposition parties must examine anew the issue with a sincere attitude and a forward-looking vista.

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