Nantou Incinerator and Tourist Project Spark Political Clash

Nantou County's controversial Mingjian waste incinerator project and the "Songling Star" tourist facility have become focal points of political debate ahead of local elections. Opposition candidate Wen Shizheng of the Democratic Progressive Party has sharply criticized both projects, labeling them as wasteful expenditures.

However, Nantou Deputy Magistrate Wang Ruide defended the incinerator plan, highlighting its necessity for the county. He stated that Nantou is the only county in Taiwan without its own waste incineration facility. This lack of local capacity often leads to difficulties in processing the county's waste, as other counties face their own capacity constraints and cannot consistently assist.

"Establishing Nantou's own incinerator is crucial," Wang asserted, emphasizing the county's reliance on external waste processing capabilities. He pointed out the instability and unreliability of relying on other counties, making self-sufficiency in waste management a pressing issue for Nantou.

Regarding the "Songling Star" scenic tower, the Nantou County government acknowledged Wen Shizheng's criticisms but chose not to engage directly with what they termed "election political language." Instead, they reiterated their commitment to continuing previous tourism development initiatives. The government plans to focus on attracting investment and ensuring the successful operation of the tower, framing it as a continuation of existing tourism infrastructure efforts.

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Establishing Nantou's own incinerator is crucial.