By Kim Jong-chan
Staff Reporter
Minister of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Chung Jong-hwan hinted Tuesday at the possibility of the government resuming work to build the cross-country canal.
``If a climate is created and the people want it, the government could revive the waterway project,'' Chung told a National Assembly committee.
Referring to the suspension of the project linking Seoul with Busan on the southeastern coast of the country, he said, ``Frankly speaking, there have been few chances of discussing the matter in a calm manner, not a politically motivated one.''
Despite President Lee Myung-bak's desire to push the project forward, there were growing concerns that building a canal over mountain ranges in some areas could result in flooding as well as environmental destruction.
Opponents also raised doubts over the practicality of building a waterway on a peninsula, where most big cities are not far from the sea. In addition, they questioned the project's economic effect, insisting that the initiative would require a large amount of money with low returns.
The minister said his ministry plans to restart the Gyeongin canal project to expand commercial use of the Han River by connecting it with the West Sea.