Flooding in Taipei's Neihu district: Critic blames former deputy mayor Lee Shih-chuan

Taipei's Neihu district was inundated by severe flooding following heavy rainfall on June 25, highlighting a significant discrepancy in drainage standards between former Deputy Mayor Lee Shih-chuan and current Mayor Chiang Wan-an. Further localized flooding occurred in Neihu and Shilin districts during an afternoon thunderstorm on June 28, intensifying scrutiny on the city's flood prevention measures.

Commentator Wen Lang-tung has identified Lee Shih-chuan as the primary figure responsible for the Neihu flooding. Lee had claimed in April that during his tenure as deputy mayor, the city's drainage standard was increased from 78 millimeters per hour to 88 millimeters. However, Mayor Chiang Wan-an stated on June 27 that the current drainage system can only handle 78 millimeters per hour, with plans to reach 88 millimeters over the next five to ten years, costing 6.5 billion yuan. This contradiction has fueled criticism.

Wen Lang-tung detailed on Facebook that flaws in Lee Shih-chuan's past policies as deputy mayor are now evident. He pointed out the absence of a standard operating procedure (SOP) for clearing drainage systems, leading the Water Resources Department to blame citizens for not cleaning their own gutters after the floods. Wen also criticized the 88-millimeter flood discharge standard as a "five-year plan" that Lee had presented as a past achievement.

Furthermore, Wen highlighted a significant disparity in the current Chiang administration's approach to infrastructure maintenance. He stated that the length and frequency of gutter cleaning by the Chiang administration are only 60% of what the previous Ko administration achieved, yet the budget allocated is double. Wen also noted frequent issues with the distribution of disaster relief funds, indicating a lack of a proper SOP for their disbursement.

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Neihu flooding, the main culprit is Lee Shih-chuan.