Gunma JCP requests land ministry to take measures to solve Yanba dam issue
Delegates of the Japanese Communist Party in Gunma Prefecture, where the Yanba dam construction site is located, on October 19 urged the government to issue a sincere apology and take practical measures based on local communities' demand to resolve the Yanba dam issues.
Regarding the land ministry's plan to stop the Yanba dam project, the JCP Gunma committee said, "Planned construction site residents have unwillingly accepted the Yanba dam project in order to supply water to neighboring prefectures. It is natural for local people to be angered at the government's decision to scrap the Yanba dam project only because the Democratic Party of Japan pledged in the recent general election to do so. The government is responsible to make a thorough disclosure of relevant information in order to gain the understanding and backing of local people."
In addition, JCP delegates urged the ministry to apologize to local people in a sincere manner, to fulfill its responsibility to give an explanation to residents of the planned construction site and neighboring prefectures' people with full disclosure of information, and to take sufficient and practical measures, based on local communities' demands, to provide compensation and to develop local communities.
A land ministry official replied, "We will explain the situation to local people and other relevant people at the right time and will discuss the issue with them sincerely and patiently."
- Akahaga, October 20, 2009