Hundreds of Meters of Green Shade Vanish as Zhuoshui River堤防 Trees Cleared; Residents Outraged

Hundreds of meters of natural green shade along the Zhuoshui River堤防 in Changhua County's Xizhou Township have been completely leveled. The trees, including chinaberry, longan, and other species, formed a natural green walkway. The Fourth River Branch of the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Water Resources Agency explained the trees were on public land and were removed after a month-long notice period with no owner claiming them.

The agency plans to process the felled branches into material for suppressing dust on riverbanks. However, the clearing has left branches and leaves scattered across the road and adjacent farmland, disrupting farmers' access and cultivation. This has angered locals, who criticize the authorities for the "cut-and-dump" approach, lamenting the loss of the green canopy and the incomplete cleanup.

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Trees were cut and then carelessly discarded.

Officials stated they received a report in May about fruit trees planted on the riverbank. Although the planters were not found, a notice for rectification was posted. After a month with no action, and in consultation with the village chief, the decision was made to clear the area due to the presence of multiple unmanaged trees creating a messy environment. The cleared section spans about 800 meters. The agency has since instructed the contractor to improve cleanup efforts for the scattered debris.

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Trees were planted on river public land, and after a month of no one coming forward to handle it, they were all cleared.