PLANNING RUCKUS: The bill would allow political considerations to override environmental protection concerns, former KMT legislator Chiau Wen-yan said

Taipei Times
Date: Feb 27, 2020
By: Lin Chia-nan  /  Staff reporter

Proposed amendments to the Spatial Planning Act (國土計畫法) might cause more environmental injustice under the pretext of “major construction projects,” environmentalists and lawmakers said yesterday, urging the Cabinet to withdraw the “retrogressive” bill.

The act, passed by the legislature in 2015, was hailed as a milestone in environmental protection for classifying land rezoning into national reserve areas, marine resource areas, agriculture development areas and urban development areas.

It is expected to take effect in 2022 when central and local government regulations are completed.

However, the Cabinet on Thursday last week proposed amendments that have unnerved many environmentalists.    [FULL  STORY]