MPs plan for New Taipei's Broadwood Farm next to Heihe Ditch

https://www.zincheng.com.tw/dt65.htm

The New Taipei City Government's High Beach Project Management Office is planning a 3.5-hectare Broadwood Farm next to the Sunshine Canal in the Double Flood Road for the public to rent and grow fruits and vegetables. Within this year, the New Taipei City Government ’s High Beach Project Management Office sent the crops for inspection and found that their lead content was higher than the standard value. They announced that they would ban harvesting, selling, or eating, and would handle compensation operations. The 8-meter drainage ditch next to the farm is the culprit of contaminated soil. It is suspected that the site of the high beach was incorrectly selected, and the vegetables harvested by the public since February this year have also eaten. At the high beach, it was clarified that, before the construction of Broadwood Farm, samples of soil and water had been submitted for inspection, and all eight heavy metals had passed the inspection before being opened. Chen Qineng pointed at a large black drainage ditch about 8 meters wide next to the farm on the side of the embankment, saying that once the heavy rain floods the drainage ditch, it will form a "little Heilongjiang", not just the heavy rain last month. The drainage ditch is close to the soil in the park. It is Wugu Industrial Zone. The pollution level of this drainage ditch may penetrate and contaminate the fruits and vegetables cultivated by small farmers. The High Beach Department said that in response to the farmers ’concerns about the pollution of the agricultural land caused by heavy rain last month, the Agricultural Bureau has been asked to spot-check 4 crops in the farm zone on May 24, and received an inspection report on the 17th. The inspection results showed that the lead content of the crops was higher than In the case of the standard value (qualified as 0.3ppm and detection value as 0.4ppm), farmers will be prohibited from harvesting, selling, and consuming the crops produced in the farm, and will also compensate farmers for losses. The High Beach Department said that it will further increase soil testing to confirm the safety of the farm. It is expected that there will be preliminary soil test results in early July. During the inspection period, if farmers in the Lohas Farm have doubts about the safety of cultivated land, they can apply during working hours. Cancellation can be refunded in full. Chen Qineng said that the drug poison test of the Agriculture Commission of the Executive Yuan showed that the crops were found to have exceeded the standards in blocks 551, 22, 353, and 221. The municipal government actually selected the site to lease the contaminated land to the citizens for planting. The fruits and vegetables planted after the government rents the land cannot be eaten, and the principal organ of the New Taipei City Government should be held responsible for all compensation.