By RK Shih/Staff
KAOHSIUNG — The Kaohsiung City Government expects to launch the physical relocation of Dalinpu [大林蒲] residents by October, following the submission of urban planning changes to the Ministry of the Interior for final approval. The long-delayed project, driven by the establishment of the New Materials Circular-Industrial Park [新材料循環產業園區], moved into a new phase this month with the start of land purchase agreements for religious facilities and residential zones.
The Urban Development Bureau [高雄市都發局] confirmed Saturday that it is coordinating with the Ministry of Economic Affairs to synchronize environmental impact assessments and urban plan amendments. If federal approval is granted as scheduled, the city will begin the formal lottery process for land allocation and the distribution of relocation compensation later this fall.
Under the current plan, residents in residential and commercial zones are eligible for a “one-ping-for-one-ping” [一坪換一坪] land exchange (one ping equals approximately 3.3 square meters or 35.5 square feet). Farmers in the area may choose between receiving cash payments or swapping their plots for construction-ready land in the Gaoping Special District [高坪特定區].
Relocation Logistics and Funding
The relocation project, which covers approximately 5,850 households, has seen its budget swell to NT$80 billion as the city attempts to address decades of industrial pollution and social displacement. The city’s Urban Planning Commission [高雄市都市計畫委員會] approved the necessary zoning changes for the resettlement sites in Fengshan [鳳山] and Cianjin [前鎮] last October.
City officials stated that the ongoing land purchase negotiations, which began on Jan. 1, include specific protocols for ancestral shrines and temples. Once the industrial park’s feasibility study is formally ratified, the city will move forward with issuing building incentives and moving allowances to encourage a smooth transition for the coastal community.
While the city government is optimistic about an October start, residents and environmental groups remain skeptical. At a recent public hearing, advocates pointed out that the new industrial park will still house high-pollution petrochemical facilities. Additionally, critics have previously alleged that land valuation for the relocation site was significantly underestimated, a claim the city continues to deny.
Sources: China Times: Dalinpu Relocation Case Submitted to Ministry of the Interior CNA: Kaohsiung Pushes Dalinpu Relocation Forward Liberty Times: Urban Planning for New Materials Park Reported for Approval Dalinpu Relocation Information Website
This video regarding the Dalinpu relocation hearing provides additional context on the residents’ frustration with the project’s timeline and environmental concerns.
換你來住？｜何時可遷村？新材料循環園區公聽會居民怒 – YouTube
