The infamous Wugu Garbage Dump and its vicinity have been plagued with chronic environmental problems, notably the illegal deposit of waste soil and poor sanitation. To rectify these problems and display the resolve of law enforcement, New Taipei City Mayor You-yi Hou personally led a public safety team in a demolition operation on August 8th, 2019, targeting illegal buildings of business operators that have long encroached on national lands and contributed substantially to the pollution of the area. The public safety team was accompanied and supported by the City’s Environmental Protection, Police, Fire, Agriculture, Land Administration, Urban and Rural Development, Public Works departments and Illegal Construction Demolition Corps.
 

The City Government has identified 11 business operators that have long encroached on national lands and scheduled the demolition of illegal buildings they erected in two stages. The demolition operation led by the Mayor on the 8th, which involved tearing down the illegal buildings of 2 business operators, belonged to the first stage. A city councilor, Ming-yi Chen, was also present during the operation. The public safety team had previously investigated and confirmed that Hsin Fa Oils, an oil product dealer, had in its perimeter a surface tank containing approximately 20 thousand liters of fuel oil (heavy oil). By the definition set forth in the Water Pollution Control Act, Hsin Fa Oils was an enterprise, which must obey certain rules for its oil storage facilities. The lack of overflow dykes in its perimeters was in violation of Article 18 of the Water Pollution Control Act and Article 44 of the Water Pollution Control Measures and Test Reporting Management Regulations. After a notice confirming the illegal construction status was dispatched to Hsin Fa Oils within the time limit prescribed by law, the Illegal Construction Demolition Corps ordered Hsin Fa Oils to demolish the facilities with its own means before August 5th. Hsin Fa Oils, however, was opportunistic and made no effort to relocate or improve their perimeters before the deadline. Even with the Illegal Construction Demolition Corps offering to assist them in moving their valuable assets as a gesture of good will, Hsin Fa Oils stubbornly refused to comply and expressed their dissatisfaction over the forced demolition. Duty-bound to maintain public safety, the City Government decided to proceed with the scheduled demolition on August 8th.
 

On the day of demolition, the Fire Department fined Hsin Fa Oils for the overstorage of hazardous substances and the lack of adequate safety structures or facilities. Throughout the demolition operation, the proprietor persistently petitioned for the dovecote that was also in their perimeters, citing that if the dovecote was also demolished, the pigeons, which were in a race at the time, would not be able to find their home when they returned in 3 days. Out of the concern for animal welfare, the Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office agreed to allow the proprietor to remove the dovecote before 17:00 of August 11th, but the building beneath the dovecote should still be demolished immediately. The proprietor thus signed an affidavit, agreeing unconditionally that the City Government could recommence the demolition of the dovecote on August 12 if the extended deadline was not met. Another site that was demolished on that day was a container yard that encroached on national land. The demolition of the remaining 9 business operators was scheduled for the second stage of the operation. 
 

The City Government has amply displayed its resolution in the heavy-handed treatment of the law-breaking business operators, who were also ordered to restore the sites to their natural state. The City Government is adamant that any illegal conduct that involves environmental pollution or encroachment of national lands shall be severely punished. However, other than penalties, the City Government has also provide channels for business operators to apply for the use of national lands, notably through pilot projects before the implementation of urban planning projects under the condition that business operators must conform to the regulations for open space and environmental improvement. The City Government expects that such a carrot and stick approach would effectively improve the environment around the Wugu Garbage Dump and reduce the concerns of public safety and environmental pollution.

Competent Authority：Department of fire, New Taipei City Government