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Cheong Wa Dae is considering ways to hand over three major projects to government agencies, it emerged on Thursday. They are the Saemangeum land reclamation project, an international science business belt project and, crucially, President Lee Myung-bak¡¯s controversial cross-country canal project, which have so far been handled directly by Lee.
A key presidential official said, "The National Competitiveness Reinforcement Committee, which has so far supervised the grand canal project and Saemangeum project, will take hands off these projects. They will be handled by central and local government agencies, such as the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. Cheong Wa Dae will coordinate between central and local governments."
The presidential office apparently reached the decision based on considerable public opposition to the canal project, as well as resistance from the opposition parties and questions over the project¡¯s efficiency. Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Minister Chung Jong-hwan, however, is determined to pursue the project. "A concrete policy direction for this project will be set out this year,¡± he said Thursday.
Meeting with reporters, Chung said, "We have to consider the grand canal project from the standpoint of how significant it is for national competitiveness.¡± He admitted feeling pressure ¡°because some people are sensitive about the issue.¡± He called on reporters to stop politicizing the canal now the general election is over.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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