Yibu Bridge Pumping Station Expected to Complete in July, Enhancing Flood Resilience in Budai, Chiayi

(Central News Agency reporter Cai Zhiming, Chiayi County, 4th) To enhance flood resilience in Budai Township, the Chiayi County Government secured subsidies from the central government's Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program to carry out the "Yibu Bridge Pumping Station Improvement Project" and the "Yibu Bridge Pumping Station Electromechanical Renewal Project." The projects are expected to be completed in July and are anticipated to improve flooding issues in Donggang, Jiangshan, and Yong'an villages.

Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang inspected the Yibu Bridge Pumping Station related projects today. The Water Resources Department briefed that the Yibu Bridge Pumping Station is located on the right bank of the Xiqian Drainage, a tributary of the Longgong Drainage, and is a key drainage node in the southern part of Budai Township.

The Water Resources Department stated that during the heavy rainfall from Tropical Depression 0823 in 2018, short-duration intense rainfall exceeded the drainage system's capacity. Coupled with high external water levels preventing proper internal drainage, this caused large-scale flooding in the area, severely impacting residents' lives. Consequently, improvement projects were actively promoted.

The county government secured subsidies from the central government's "Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program - Water Environment Construction - County/City-Managed Rivers and Regional Drainage Overall Improvement Plan" to carry out the "Yibu Bridge Pumping Station Improvement Project" and the "Yibu Bridge Pumping Station Electromechanical Renewal Project." The total approved budget for the projects is approximately NT$93.5 million. They are expected to be completed in July this year and are anticipated to improve flooding issues in Donggang, Jiangshan, and Yong'an villages.

The Water Resources Department stated that the main construction scope includes building the new pumping station main structure (3 floors above ground, 1 floor below ground), a new 2cms pumping station, detention pond slope protection works, flood-fighting road improvements, post-dike drainage ditch improvements, and related drainage facilities such as inflow structures and slab bridge reconstruction, as well as two 1cms pumping units. This will comprehensively strengthen the area's drainage and flood control capacity.

Magistrate Weng emphasized that the coastal areas of Chiayi County face immense flooding pressure. In the two areas of Yizhu and Budai alone, the county government has already invested NT$8 billion, gradually increasing local flood resistance capacity, with results becoming increasingly apparent in recent years. (Editor: Zhang Yajing) 1150604