Court orders Okinawa’s local governments to stop using public funds for reclamation of tideland

Japan Press Weekly

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Court orders Okinawa’s local governments to stop using public funds for reclamation of tideland

The Naha District Court on November 19 supported about 600 residents’ demands and ordered local governments to not use public funds to continue reclaiming Awase Tideland in Okinawa City.

The ruling pointed out that it cannot recognize the economic rationality of the reclamation of development of the Awase district promoted by the local governments of Okinawa Prefecture and Okinawa City.

The national and prefectural governments have promoted the reclamation of the Awase Tideland and surrounding area of 178 hectares. Okinawa City has planned to construct resort facilities there after jointly footing the bill of 7.4 billion yen with the prefectural government to buy the reclaimed land.

Maekawa Seiji, secretary general of the liaison council to protect Asase Tideland, said, “The ruling has paved the way for a halt to the reclamation of the tideland.”

A wide range of species of flora and fauna, including endangered one inhabit the Awase Tideland about 290 hectares. - Akahata, November 20, 2008