The nationalization of Taiwan’s 17 irrigation associations under the Agency of Irrigation in July 2020 did not contravene the Constitution, the Constitutional Court ruled yesterday.
The move did not contravene the principle of legal clarity, nor people’s freedom of association, guaranteed by Article 14 of the Constitution, said Judicial Yuan President Hsu Tzong-li (許宗力), who heads the Constitutional Court.
The nationalization process did not infringe on property rights, nor did it violate the non-retroactivity principle or the principle of legitimate expectation, Hsu said.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators said the nationalization of the irrigation associations under the Irrigation Act (農田水利法) was disproportionate and
‘NO BREACHES’: The Cabinet got backing from the Constitutional Court after it said that the former irrigation association system was not based on constitutional rightsBy Wu Cheng-feng, Chang Wen-chuan and Jake Chung / Staff reporters, with staff writer
Weekend rainfall helps farmers, but reservoirs still dry: officials
04/26/2021 09:16 PM
CNA file photo
Taipei, April 26 (CNA) The rainy weather over the weekend helped some of Taiwan s farmers after a months-long drought, but the 1.2 million cubic meters it is expected to deliver to reservoirs will not do much to boost the overall water supply, officials said Monday.
Tsai Sheng-fu (蔡昇甫), chief of the Agency of Irrigation under the Council of Agriculture (COA), told CNA that the wet weather system brought rainfall to some drought-stricken agricultural hubs, especially in Kaohsiung and Pingtung, where mango and rice farmers have suffered major losses.
Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季), deputy chief of the COA, said the rain came at a good time because many crops are starting to bear fruit or grains during which they particularly need moisture.
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KMT lawmakers seek interpretation over irrigation issue
By Wu Cheng-feng and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer
A group of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers yesterday sought a constitutional interpretation over the government’s move to nationalize irrigation associations.
The Legislative Yuan in July last year passed the Act of Irrigation (農田水利法) that converted 17 irrigation associations nationwide into a government body.
The Council of Agriculture in October last year inaugurated the Agency of Irrigation to oversee the associations, whose assets are valued at about NT$75.6 billion (US$2.67 billion).
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Alex Fai, front row, fifth right, and members of a group opposing the nationalization of the nation’s irrigation associations protest outside the Judicial Yuan in Taipei yesterday.