The site of the irrigation facility renovation project in Geumjeong District, Yeongam County, Jeonnam. [Provided by Jeonnam Province]
Jeonnam Province announced on the 3rd that they would conduct a three-week “thaw season joint safety inspection” starting from the 4th to ensure safety at agricultural production infrastructure and construction sites during the thaw season.
The main inspection targets include facilities rated D for safety, first-class agricultural production infrastructure, sites recovering from last year’s typhoon and heavy rain damage, and large construction sites with a total project cost of over 10 billion won. First-class facilities include reservoirs with a total storage capacity of over 300,000㎥, pump stations with over 2,000 horsepower, and state-managed tidal barriers.
Jeonnam Province, along with city and county authorities and the Korea Rural Community Corporation, will form five teams with 33 inspectors to check for cracks, subsidence, and slope collapses in the facilities, as well as the operational status of electrical and mechanical installations. They will also verify the progress of ongoing projects, adherence to various design standards, and the implementation of safety measures.
In addition, local government bodies in each city and county across the province and the Korea Rural Community Corporation will conduct their inspections over 45 days until April 2nd. Inspection targets include 3,207 reservoirs, 1,058 tidal barriers, and 1,284 pump stations, totaling 5,549 agricultural production infrastructure facilities and 414 ongoing construction sites, such as 50 drainage improvement sites, 49 tidal barriers, and 211 irrigation facility renovations.
Jeonnam Province has been enhancing facility stability through thaw season inspections annually. In March last year, they immediately addressed 59 issues, including neglect of floating debris in reservoirs and inadequate safety management in construction, during joint inspections of 66 facilities, and established and implemented repair plans for seven cases of embankment leakage, contributing to safety assurance.
This year, they plan to promptly address minor issues and perform emergency safety measures for major defects, setting repair and reinforcement plans to complete maintenance before the rainy season. To strengthen safety inspections, there will be a training session focused on integrity and safety for relevant officials and on-site personnel on the 7th, led by expert instructors.
Kim Hyun-mi, Director of Agricultural Policy at Jeonnam Province, stated, “During the thaw season, the ground becomes more vulnerable, increasing the risk of facility collapse, so we will conduct thorough inspections to prevent human and property damage. We aim to continually enhance the stability of agricultural infrastructure through ongoing safety management and maintenance.”