Governor Kawakatsu's Resignation Does Not Clear the Way for Linear Project; Real Test Comes After Construction of Shizuoka Construction Zone Begins
On April 10, 2024, Shizuoka Prefecture Governor Heita Kawakatsu submitted his resignation to the chairman of the prefectural assembly, drawing criticism for comments he made at the prefectural entrance ceremony on April 1 that could be perceived as occupationally discriminatory; although he announced his resignation at the June regular session on April 2, there were growing calls for his early resignation from within and outside the prefecture. At a press conference on June 10, Governor Kawakatsu explained his decision to move up the timing of his resignation, saying it would shorten the gap in prefectural administration.
An improved "L0 (L-zero) series" test car undergoing running tests on a linear test line in Yamanashi Prefecture (Photo: The Alliance for Promoting the Construction of the Linear Central Shinkansen Line)
[Click on image to enlarge].
Governor Kawakatsu has not approved the start of construction of the Shizuoka section of the Linear Central Shinkansen, citing the reduced flow of the Oi River and its impact on the ecosystem of the Southern Alps. On March 29, JR Tokai, the main operator of the project, announced its decision to abandon the Shinagawa-Nagoya section of the line, which is scheduled to open in 2015. The company also announced that it expects it will take about 10 years to complete the tunnel construction in the Shizuoka construction zone.
At a press conference held on April 3, the day after he announced his resignation, Governor Kawakatsu referred to the postponement of the opening of the new linear line. He said, "This is a fundamental revision of the existing construction plan. We have reached a major break with the linear line. This was the biggest thing. I am submitting my resignation because I have reached the end of my work here," he said, explaining the reason for his resignation.
Governor Kawakatsu's statement also drew criticism. At a press conference held on April 8, Hideaki Omura, governor of Aichi Prefecture and chairman of the Alliance for the Promotion of the Linear Central Japan High Speed Rail Construction Project, which consists of 10 prefectures along the Linear Line, said, "It is not right to say that one's work is finished by making a statement that could be taken as one's achievement, as if the fact that one has abandoned the 27-year opening of the Linear Line is a milestone. I think it is wrong to say that this is the end of a job well done. Did he take advantage of us? I am furious.
In June 2010, Shizuoka Prefecture applied to join the alliance on the condition that it approve the current project plan for the Linear Linear project. It submitted a document stating that it shared the prefecture's position of aiming for a 27-year opening of the Shinagawa-Nagoya line and a 37-year opening of the entire line to Osaka. However, at the aforementioned April 3 press conference, Governor Kawakatsu contradicted his sentiments at the time, saying, "I have traditionally believed that the only way to solve the linear problem is to review this project plan.
In April 2008, at a meeting of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's panel of experts to study the reduction of the Oi River's flow, then JR Tokai President Shin Kaneko said, "If the Shizuoka Prefectural Government imposes tasks on us that are difficult to achieve, and if we do not accomplish them, we will not start construction, then we will not be able to achieve the goals of the Linear Linear Project. If we are not allowed to start the construction without accomplishing these tasks, the realization of the linear rail line will be very far away," he pointed out. Later, in response to protests from Governor Kawakatsu and others, he retracted his statement and began talking about the possibility of postponing the 27-year opening of the line.
Translated from Source: Hiroshi Tanigawa
Nikkei Crosstech
https://xtech.nikkei.com/atcl/nxt/colum ... 142/01846/
Accessed: April 12, 2024
