Fallowing area under suspended irrigation expands, exceeding 40,000 hectares from Taoyuan to Chiayi-Tainan
Text/Water Resources Agency, Ministry of Economic Affairs
The Ministry of Economic Affairs Drought Response Team invited the Council of Agriculture, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Central Weather Bureau, the irrigation associations and the relevant county and city governments to jointly discuss drought-mitigation measures on the evening of today (the 25th). Because rainfall has been limited, the water situation remains poor. To stabilize water supply for domestic and industrial use, this meeting resolved that fallow-and-pause-irrigation measures will also be implemented in the Shihmen Reservoir irrigation area in the Dahan River basin in the Taoyuan area, covering 22,677 hectares; the Touqian River basin irrigation area and the Fengshan River basin irrigation area in the Hsinchu area, 4 sections covering 4,606 hectares; and the Zengwen-Wushantou Reservoir irrigation area in Chiayi County and City and the Baihe Reservoir Baishui River irrigation area in the Zengwen River basin in the Chianan area, covering 8,493 hectares, for a total of 41,000 hectares requiring paused irrigation and fallow. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Council of Agriculture will subsequently carry out the joint announcement procedures for paused irrigation and fallow.
Regarding the paused irrigation and fallow, Deputy Minister Shen specifically instructed at the meeting that after the areas for paused irrigation and fallow are announced, the Council of Agriculture should strengthen communication and explanation to farmers; as for the compensation required for paused irrigation and fallow, the Water Resources Agency should also handle it in accordance with relevant regulations.
Shen Rongjin, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and convener of the response team, said that although all units worked together to deploy in advance, the drought has persisted, and he encouraged everyone to cooperate with the Water Resources Agency's total volume control and regional dispatch plan to work together on drought mitigation. He also asked the public to practice water conservation and endure the hardship together through the dry season. The short-term goal for the water supply situation remains ensuring stable water supply for domestic and industrial use through next year's Spring Festival, while the overall goal is for all regions not to enter the third stage of water restrictions before the end of May next year.
At present, the areas implementing the first-stage nighttime pressure-reduced water supply measures include the Banxin and Linkou areas of New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung, northern Changhua, Tainan and Kaohsiung. The water situation and drought warning light signals for each area remain unchanged for the time being. The latest information can be found on the Water Resources Agency's global website and the disaster-prevention information service website, and the mobile water situation App can also be downloaded.
