Japan Press Weekly

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2014 September 10 - 16 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

JCP urges gov’t to not approve maglev railway construction

The Japanese Communist Party Dietmembers’ group on September 9 petitioned the government to not approve an application from Central Japan Railway Company (JR Tokai) for a launch of the construction of a new bullet train line using maglev technology.

JCP member of the House of Representatives Kokuta Keiji, head of the JCP parliamentarians’ project team for issues regarding the maglev railway construction, and five team members visited the land and transport ministry. They handed over the petition document to Vice Minister Nishimura Akihiro.

In the petition, they pointed out that as nearly 90% of the railway is composed of tunnels, the construction will generate an enormous amount of waste soil and bring about massive, serious impacts on the environment. They criticized JR Tokai for neglecting to conduct negotiations with concerned local residents.

They also referred to the fact that while the environment minister in a statement pointed to the possibility that the new high-speed railway construction will damage the natural environment, the railway company showed reluctance to reconsider the new line project.

The JCP parliamentarians’ group demanded that the state authorities fulfill their responsibility for nature conservation and protection of people’s living environments.

Past related articles:
> Petition drive opposing maglev railway construction attracts public attention [January 31, 2013]
> JCP Shii calls for halt to construction of maglev Shinkansen system [May 18, 2012]
> Residents demand reconsideration of plan to build linear motor Shinkansen [April 13, 2012]