Taiwan's Taroko National Park will cost NT$1 billion to rebuild after quake

台灣太魯閣國家公園震後重建將耗資新台幣10億元

Trails and facilities within Taroko National Park suffered severe damage


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Interior (MOI) estimated it will cost NT$1 billion (US$30 million) to rebuild Taroko National Park after the magnitude 7.2 earthquake this month.



Interior Minister Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) said Monday (April 15) that Taroko National Park was severely damaged after the quake, reported CNA. During a meeting of the Legislative Yuan's Internal Administration Committee, Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Legislator Mai Yu-zhen (麥玉珍), Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Chang Chih-lun (張智倫), and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Huang Jie (黃捷) asked whether a provisional law for earthquake reconstruction, similar to that enacted after the 1999 Jiji earthquake, should be considered.



Lin said further discussions would take place after the completion of the disaster damage assessment and needs survey by the Hualien County government. He said the central government allocated NT$300 million to Hualien County Government immediately after the disaster.



According to Lin, some funds can be utilized from the existing disaster response budget. Government budgets can be flexibly reallocated for emergency relief, and there are also donations, he said.



If there is still insufficient funding, then the allocation of a special budget can be considered, said Lin. He added, “So far, there have been no issues with the relevant budget.”



KMT Legislator Hsu Yu-chen (許宇甄) asked how much reconstruction would cost. Lin said reconstruction and restoration involve various government agencies, with the largest budget coming from the Ministry of Transportation and Communication.



The reconstruction of Provincial Highway No. 8 will take time, and the ministry will allocate budgets annually, said Lin. Regarding the parts related to the MOI's management of national parks, Lin said the initial estimate may exceed NT$1 billion.



However, as the disaster area is still experiencing aftershocks, a detailed assessment cannot be conducted until the situation stabilizes.



Lin said that in the more accessible areas of Taroko National Park, it will take 14 days to complete the survey. For severely affected areas, initial damage assessments will be conducted using aerial photography.



The reopening of areas will be staggered based on the frequency and impact of aftershocks, said Lin.



Independent Legislator Kao Chin Su-mei (高金素梅) said the amount raised by Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief has exceeded NT$900 million. However, the foundation's major natural disaster relief assistance standard provides only NT$400,000 in relief for each death, a figure that has remained unchanged since 2008.



Chen Tsung-liang (陳宗良), supervisor of the foundation, said the entire amount raised will be used for victims. As for whether the death compensation grant will be adjusted, it is under discussion but requires convening a board meeting for further deliberation, said Chen.