Gov't to manage water quality, volume on 4 rivers

By Lee Kyung-min

The government will set up bodies to manage the quality and volume of water on the country’s four major rivers, as part of efforts to streamline the water management system, it said Friday.

According to the Ministry of Environment, the bodies will be in charge of managing the Han, Nakdong, Geum and Youngsan Rivers. The measure came after President Moon Jae-in instructed the environment ministry to oversee all affairs involving water. Moon also ordered the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to hand its regulatory and oversight functions related to water to the envisioned bodies.

A special committee will be set up to better manage droughts and floods and outline programs to manage and monitor water usage.

The committee comprised of officials of the government, civic groups and experts will discuss measures over which government ministries should be in charge of managing water-related facilities and be held responsible in case they fail. It will discuss measures needed for dispute mediation proceedings.

Currently, industrial dams are managed by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, agricultural dams by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and small streams by the Ministry of Public Safety and Security.