Eco parks waste of tax money: auditor

South Korea’s audit agency warned Thursday that some municipalities’ push for creating ecological parks could lead to a massive waste of taxpayer money as their plan fails to follow necessary guidelines.

In the audit report concerning the feasibility of local governments’ construction projects, the Board of Audit and Inspection noted that 34 local government offices had failed to reflect the river management guidelines in their plans to restore 42 rivers across the nation. 

The budget for the projects amounts to 601.9 billion won ($533.7 million).

When local governments carry out a project aimed at restoring streams and rivers, they are required to devise it in accordance with the river management plan to prevent facilities from being washed away.

The river management plan includes guidelines on widening rivers and setting up embankments.

The audit report revealed that the Ministry of Environment had approved the municipalities’ plan to restore the rivers and create the ecological parks even in cases where guidelines were ignored.

The government’s approval could result in wasting a total of 390 billion won, the audit agency said.

In the report, the agency also recommended North Chungcheong Province to scrap its plan to build six roads in the region, which would cost 200 billion won.

The report also ordered South Jeolla Province to punish a government worker who received a budget of 400 million won from the Agriculture Ministry by distorting the feasibility analysis for the project to create a theme park in the area.

By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)