Court again orders Okinawa's local governments to stop using public funds for reclamation of tideland
The Fukuoka High Court on October 16 upheld the lower court decision that ordered local governments to stop using public funds to continue reclaiming Awase Tideland in the prefecture.
The high court virtually ordered the national and local governments to halt wasteful large public work projects, which are rarely cancelled once started.
After the ruling, plaintiffs held a rally and said, "This ruling has an epoch-making impact on future activities for protecting nature."
The Awase project is designed to construct an artificial island by reclaiming about 187 hectares of the Awase Tideland by using dirt dredged from construction works to develop a harbor facility at Nakagusuku Bay.
Okinawa City plans to construct resort facilities, including hotels and an artificial beach, after jointly footing the bill of 7.4 billion yen with the prefectural government to buy the reclaimed land.
The Awase Tideland is fertile tideland and there is a variety of marine life, including the endangered species, Scartelaos histophorus.
The Japanese Communist Party from the beginning opposed the project as wasteful.
The government must halt the Awase project.
- Akahata, October 16, 2009