Sewage System Construction Lags in Green Island and Orchid Island; Councilor Worries About Marine Ecosystem

Central News Agency, Taitung, June 2. While sewage treatment systems have been installed in Xiaoliuqiu, Pingtung, progress in Green Island and Orchid Island, Taitung, remains slow. Taitung County Councilor Chien Wei-kuo urged the Taitung County Government to assist in early construction to prevent damage to coral reefs and fish ecosystems. Chien pointed out that failure to manage sewage effectively would threaten the local tourism-dependent economy. Tsai Sheng-hsiung, head of the Construction Department, explained that the delays are due to budget allocation mechanisms, central government procedures, and conflicting opinions. For Green Island, the county has been planning for years, adopting a household connection model. For Orchid Island, NT$60 million has been allocated for a phased pilot project, including a system at Orchid Island High School and subsidies for individual septic tank improvements. Chien urged the department to learn from Xiaoliuqiu's efficiency to overcome land and technical disputes.