Gov. Park Wan-su visits the temporary pumping station installation site at Ungokcheon stream in Chirwon-eup, Haman-gun on Tuesday, directing officials to build a stable water supply infrastructure capable of withstanding a prolonged drought. [South Gyeongsang Province]
Gov. Park Wan-su visits the temporary pumping station installation site at Ungokcheon stream in Chirwon-eup, Haman-gun on Tuesday, directing officials to build a stable water supply infrastructure capable of withstanding a prolonged drought. [South Gyeongsang Province]

South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-su conducted on-site inspections Tuesday to assess the province's response to a prolonged drought and rising water temperatures. After reviewing drought countermeasures, Park visited affected areas in Jinrye-myeon, Gimhae, and Chilbuk-myeon and Chirwon-eup in Haman-gun to check on agricultural water supply conditions.

At the sites, Park directed officials to "mobilize all available resources — water tankers, wells and supplementary water sources — on the assumption that no rain will fall through the end of August, and minimize damage to farms." At a water tanker operation site near Jinrye Reservoir in Gimhae, he said rapid on-site support was essential. The reservoir's storage rate has dropped to 28.8 percent, triggering restricted water supply.

"Residents are deeply worried about damage to their crops, so the support they need on the ground must be delivered quickly," Park said. "We are already surveying demand for fire department equipment support from cities and counties through the smart agriculture division, so mobilize the necessary equipment immediately to ensure there are no disruptions to agricultural water supply."

Park then inspected a water supply operation in Gayeon-ri, Chilbuk-myeon, Haman-gun, where eight pieces of equipment including water tankers and wildfire suppression vehicles had been deployed. "The longer the drought lasts, the more critical it is to deliver water on time," he said. At the temporary pumping station installation site on Ungokcheon stream in Chirwon-eup, he urged officials to "quickly establish a stable water supply infrastructure that can withstand a prolonged drought, not just provide short-term water delivery."

South Gyeongsang Province plans to concentrate its administrative resources on securing agricultural water supply and minimizing damage to fishing households as the drought and high water temperatures show no sign of easing. Park's site visits are part of the province's effort to simultaneously accelerate water procurement, equipment support and fiscal mobilization.


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