SEVERE DUST STORMS PLAGUE PINGTUNG|高屏溪流域風吹沙 砂石場開採擴大空汙

Pingtung has been plagued by violent dust storms as the now nearly dry riverbed of the Gaoping River has been exposed to the open air. The sand mines nearby have further compounded the problem. When the southwesterly wind blows hard, it seems that in the region there is nothing but sand, reducing visibility and representing an acute health hazard for local residents. On a clear afternoon, southwesterly winds kick up a dust storm along the Qishan River at its juncture with the Gaoping River. ==RESIDENT Ligang Township, Pingtung County== It comes up from the bottom of the river. It blows down to Meinong, it's all from the area around the Gaoping Bridge. Dry riverbeds from the lack of rainfall is the main reason for the sandstorms, but the sand storage sites on the north shore of the river are also a source of pollution. Much of the sand is exposed uncovered in the wind, making the pollution spread to neighboring townships. ==RESIDENT Ligang Township, Pingtung County== When people ask where I'm from, I say I'm from England. The land of dust. It changes your lungs, your breathing, your eyes. Residents say that they live in "England," a pun in Taiwanese for a dark and dusty place. Sand mining has taken place in the area for decades and has only grown in scale despite resident protests. ==LU TAI-YING Director, Pingtung County Environmental Protection Bureau== There are standards, they are restricted if the sand is not 80% covered. We require that they comply with these standards in their storage sites. The government of Pingtung County said that it will fine companies that do not cover the sand as required, and that it is discussing more ways to reduce sand storms. However, only four or five of the sand mining sites are legal. Better management of these sand mining companies will be necessary to reduce air pollution. Translated by JOHN CHEN 立夏之後，高屏溪流域又開始刮西南風，前兩天上游的旗山溪里港沿岸，因此出現嚴重風吹沙，不過除了溪床揚沙，當地砂石場越來越多，也擴大空汙規模和範圍，居民抱怨連連，抨擊多年來向縣府和砂石業者反應未見改善。 晴朗的午后，一陣西南風吹來，要匯入高屏溪的旗山溪，風沙立刻往上游竄，前兩天情況特別嚴重。 ==屏東縣里港鄉居民== 就順溪底上來啊 這裡剛好飛到美濃 從高屏大橋 從那裡飛起來的 降雨少造成溪床乾涸是揚沙主因，不過一刮風就造成汙染的，還包括北岸的砂石堆置場，沿路檢視，多數砂石場沒有覆蓋或防風的設施，更助長空汙擴大到隔壁鄉。 ==屏東縣里港鄉居民== 說你住哪 我說住在英國 很英(灰塵瀰漫)的所在 這氣管都會不一樣 呼吸不一樣 還有眼睛 居民說因為時常塵沙發揚，所以用台語諧音，戲稱當地是英國。而當地設置砂石場已有幾十年歷史，居民要縣府和業者改善，但不見成效，反而砂石場愈來愈多。 ==聲音來源 屏東縣環保局長 魯台營== 他有一個標準 譬如說你如果沒有覆蓋到80%以上 就是要管制 要求他們場裡面 按照這個標準這樣子做 縣府表示，未依規定覆蓋，環保局會再稽查開罰，也有和業者討論多種降低揚塵的做法。不過當地合法砂石場只有4、5家，其它有的正申請合法化，有的則不合法，要減少空汙，還必須回歸工廠管理。 記者 王介村 孟昭權 屏東報導