Rainfall mainly drained away in Central Taiwan's plains
Heavy Rain Strikes Flood-Prone Gaoshu Township, Taiwan
Gaoshu Township in Pingtung, a region known for its vulnerability to floods, has been hit hard by recent heavy rainfall. The rainfall, which nearly reached the record set by Typhoon Morakot in 2009, has raised concerns about the long-term effects of silting and water management practices that have concreted the banks and beds of streams across Taiwan.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), a dominant force in the south, is under pressure to address these issues effectively to maintain support in the region. The Acting Secretary-General of the DPP, Ho Po-wen, has come under criticism for neglecting drain clearing while expending local water resource funding on infrastructure.
Taiwan's flood mitigation strategy relies on a combination of measures tailored to its mountainous topography and urban areas. These include the construction and management of multi-purpose reservoirs for flood regulation and water supply, the deployment of advanced green infrastructure incorporating Low Impact Development (LID) principles, and the strengthening of river basin flood defenses and slope stabilization works. Ongoing upgrades to drainage networks and urban flood control systems are also crucial.
Notable flood control infrastructure projects in Taiwan include the Yuanshantze Flood Diversion Tunnel, which entered service in 2005 to manage overflows from the Keelung River, protecting 2 million people living downstream in the heavily developed river basin. The government has also approved a budget to expedite a drainage improvement project in response to the serious flooding in central and southern Taiwan, with a total funding of NT$10 billion (US$334 million).
The Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program (FIDP) of the Tsai Ing-wen administration, with a budget of around NT$25 billion (US$833 million) for water management and infrastructure, has mandated 100 kilometers of local government-managed levees and drainage channels to protect 50 hectares of flood-prone areas, expanding sewer systems by 115 kilometers, and adding 190 kilometers to rivers and drainage systems.
Social media platforms have been filled with images of flooding in areas of southern Taiwan, particularly Tainan. Farmers in affected areas have filed for disaster relief, but as of last week, the government had yet to define how funds would be disbursed.
The progress since Typhoon Morakot in 2009 in water resource management and infrastructure is evident, with kudos to Taiwan's water resource managers and planners. However, the DPP must display contrition and competence to avoid further sliding in the region, as the recent heavy rain wreaked havoc in pro-DPP areas. The government will prioritize flood mitigation projects suggested by local authorities in the next multi-year flood control budget.
References:
- Taiwan News
- Asia Times
- CNA
- Environmental Science and Pollution Research
- The climate-change induced heavy rain in Gaoshu Township, Taiwan, a flood-prone region, has highlighted the need for improved environmental-science based water management practices and flood mitigation strategies in the industry.
- The business of infrastructure development, including drain clearing and state-of-the-art flood defenses, is set to be a critical element in Taiwan's political discourse, as parties work to secure support in environmental-science oriented communities.
- In the aftermath of the recent floods, the finance ministry has announced a substantial budget for energy-efficient drainage improvement projects and flood control initiatives, aiming to protect both urban areas and agricultural lands.
- The general-news media is abuzz with discussions on the role of science and technology in preventing crimes such as minimalized flooding due to the infrastructural oversights in Gaoshu Township, raising questions about the accountability of those responsible for environmental management.
- Amidst the chaos of the flooding, reports of petty crime and property damage related to the disaster have surfaced, opening a complex narrative around crime-and-justice in disaster-stricken areas and the need for effective strategies to manage both immediate and long-term crises.
