N. Gyeongsang council panel blasts poor forest, environment policy execution, urges fixes

The Culture and Environment Committee of the North Gyeongsang Provincial Assembly conducted an administrative audit of the Forest Resources Bureau and the Climate and Environment Bureau on Tuesday, examining the progress of major forestry and environmental projects and the appropriateness of budget execution.

Deputy Committee Chair Woo Yeong-bong called out the lack of substance in garden promotion projects and the low budget execution rate for carbon neutrality equipment support programs, and ordered the development of differentiated operating plans for public forest campsites. Committee member Gong Seung-hui called for measures to address unspent budget in the fire-free green village project and delays in handling illegal and abandoned waste.

Committee member Kim Yong-hyun urged the accelerated expansion of the national flower mugunghwa distribution program and the organic waste biogas project, while member Park Seung-jik said the province should strengthen efforts to contain the spread of pine wilt disease, improve management of the Gyeongju Millennium Forest Garden, and replace aging water supply pipes.

Member Yang Yu-hyeok pointed to the low actual execution rate of forest maintenance projects and on-site safety incidents, and ordered stronger safety measures for sanitation workers. Member Yun Cheol-nam flagged underperformance in the mountain village pilot development project and efforts to attract national forestry institutions to the province, urging support for fiscally weak cities and counties and the normalization of environmental facility projects.

Member Lee Chun-woo called for strengthening the research functions of the Forest Environment Research Institute, swift progress on removing trees damaged by forest fires, and proactive preparations for the 2030 ban on direct landfilling of household waste.

Member Jang Myeong-su urged field-centered education at the Forest Officers Academy and tighter management of wastewater from secondary battery production, while member Jang Eun-ju called for expanding the designation of landslide-vulnerable zones and resolving issues at the Yeongpung Seokpo smelter.

Committee Chair Kim Dae-jin said safety training and equipment support for the forest disaster response unit should be expanded, and asked the provincial government to draw up a long-term relocation plan to address water pollution caused by livestock waste from the Seohyeon pig farm complex upstream of Andong Dam.

"Forest and environmental policies are directly tied to the lives and safety of provincial residents, so we must closely examine delays in project execution and management problems and come up with practical solutions," Kim said. "Please respond proactively to forest disasters and environmental pollution, and spare no effort in budget execution and on-site management."