By RK Shih/Staff
KAOHSIUNG — The central government has preliminarily approved an additional NT$4 billion in funding to purchase land from Taiwan Sugar Corp. (台糖) for the relocation of Dalinpu (大林蒲) residents. Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) confirmed the support Thursday during a legislative session, ensuring the relocation plan remains on track to begin in 2027.
Legislator Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆) demanded that the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and the Kaohsiung City Government coordinate closely to initiate relocation registration and “agreement price purchase” (協議價購) procedures within the first half of this year.
The additional funding is necessary to fulfill the “one-for-one” (1坪換1坪) land exchange promise and to complete public infrastructure in the designated resettlement areas. The MOEA must also complete the environmental impact assessment and urban planning reviews by the end of 2026. Registration for resettlement plots is scheduled for late June, with physical relocation slated to commence in 2027.
Lai emphasized that Dalinpu residents have borne the environmental external costs of the nation’s industrial development for decades. He stated that the relocation project is not only a matter of environmental justice but a critical infrastructure project to protect the fundamental living rights of the residents.
The Dalinpu relocation issue has been a point of public and political debate for over 30 years. While discussions about moving the village due to industrial pollution began as early as 1992, the project has only gained significant central government momentum in the last decade.
Timeline of the Dalinpu Relocation
| Era | Key Milestone |
| 1990s | Origins: Formal discussions begin in 1992 following decades of heavy industrial expansion. In 1997, residents held major protests demanding either the factories or the village be moved. |
| 2007 | The Hongmaogang Catalyst: Nearby Hongmaogang (紅毛港) residents were successfully relocated, making the Dalinpu case the next logical—and more complex—priority. |
| 2011–2016 | Public Consensus: City surveys showed over 70% of residents favored relocation. In 2016, then-Premier Lin Chuan issued a formal apology to the community for the pollution. |
| 2019 | Budget Approval: The Executive Yuan approved a NT$105.4 billion project for the “New Material Circular Industrial Park,” with over half designated for Dalinpu’s relocation. |
| 2023–2024 | Funding Increases: The budget was increased to NT$80 billion specifically for relocation to ensure the “one-for-one” land exchange policy remained viable. |
| 2026–2027 | Current Target: The government aims to finalize all environmental and urban planning reviews by the end of 2026, with the goal of starting physical relocation in 2027. |
