Sep. 18, 2009 (The Yomiuri Shimbun) -- Shock and disapproval has been the reaction of many to the government's announcement Thursday that it will suspend construction of Yamba Dam in Naganoharamachi, Gunma Prefecture. The decision was made public by Construction and Transport Minister Seiji Maehara, whose words provoked a strong reaction among both local governments and residents affected by the project.
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama wants to clearly differentiate his government from the previous one led by the Liberal Democratic Party, and observers are watching closely to see if his Cabinet's policies--forumalated by politicians as opposed to bureaucrats--will proceed smoothly.
During a press conference Thursday, Maehara said the plan to discontinue construction of the dam was not the result of empty academic theory. "I inspected [Yamba Dam] many times when the Democratic Party of Japan was the opposition party. After listening to the opinions of local people, I fought in the election with [cancellation of the dam project] as part of the manifesto [for the DPJ]," he said.
Construction and Transport Ministry officials in charge of the dam project worked hard to prepare for the press conference, assembling the necessary documents and getting ready to brief Maehara. According to a senior ministry official, however, "We didn't brief Maehara before the press conference. He must have prepared possible questions and answers by himself."
Teruyuki Shimazu, 65, a representative of a citizens' organization in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, that wants the project suspended, was glad to hear construction would be discontinued.
"It's not necessary to take measures for flood control and water utilization [in the area]," Shimizu said. "We must preserve nature. My wish has been granted."
However, many local people affected by the project have voiced their disappointment regarding its suspension.
"[Maehara's] statement is unacceptable. Local residents have rearranged their lives based on the construction of the dam," said Yoji Hida, 62, owner of an inn at the Kawarayu Onsen hot spring resort in Naganoharamachi.
"Is this what a change of government means?" Hida asked.
Hitoshi Ichimura, a 70-year-old member of Naganoharamachi's town assembly, said his brother relocated from an area slated to be submerged by the dam, to an alternative site this summer.
"[For Maehara to announce that construction will be suspended] without even visiting the site is too hasty," Ichimura said.
The governors of Tokyo and five prefectures--all of which have contributed to the cost of the dam project--were also offended by the plan to stop construction.
Tokyo and the five prefectures are located at the lower reaches of the Tonegawa river. The dam project was started on Agatsumagawa river on the upper stream of the Tonegawa.
"[Discontinuation of the dam project] will upend many people's plans for their lives. It's not enough [for the government] to implement compensatory measures," Saitama Gov. Kiyoshi Ueda said.
Tochigi Gov. Tomikazu Fukuda was also critical, saying: "I doubt the government can obtain the understanding of citizens if it ignores metropolitan and prefectural governments' intentions and makes decisions in a top-down style."
Maehara indicated his desire to visit Yamba Dam during the period of consecutive holidays beginning Saturday and hear the opinions of local governments and residents.
In cases where the government cancels construction of a dam, the specific multipurpose dam law requires the construction and transport minister to listen to the opinions of prefectural governors involved in the construction.
Under the law, cancellation of the Yamba Dam project would mean the entire 146 billion yen spent in water utilization costs would have to be returned to the Tokyo and prefectural governments.
The law does not specifically state what would have to be done about the 52.5 billion yen paid in flood control-related costs, but the Tokyo and five prefectural governments are likely to ask that the government return this money as well.
