On January 22, Takashi Yamao, a member of the House of Councillors from the Japanese Communist Party, visited JR Tokai's Tokyo construction office to press the company for answers regarding a serious issue that has arisen from ongoing tunnel construction work for the Linear Shinkansen project in the Machida area of Tokyo. This issue involves the unexpected surfacing of air bubbles and water from a private property, which is believed to be caused by the underground digging work. Yamao was accompanied by local officials, including Machida City Council member Miho Tanaka, Shinagawa City Council member Hiroko Suzuki, and several residents from the affected area.
The controversy stems from the fact that JR Tokai had previously provided a vague explanation, stating that the bubbles were due to air emerging through a man-made hole. However, during his visit, Yamao questioned the company further, and JR Tokai admitted that the hole could potentially be linked to a nearby old well, though they did not entirely rule out other causes. This raised even more concerns, as the company had not properly identified the exact cause of the bubbling phenomenon, nor had they conducted any investigation into the well or surrounding areas to ascertain whether it was contributing to the issue.
Moreover, JR Tokai revealed that their investigation of ground stability had only extended to a depth of 1.5 meters underground. This limited scope of the investigation further fueled suspicions that the company was not taking the problem seriously or carrying out adequate due diligence. The company also acknowledged that they had not yet obtained the consent of the landowners affected by the bubbling issue, indicating that they were considering resuming tunneling operations without the agreement of the people most directly impacted by the situation. This raised further alarm among local residents and elected officials, who questioned JR Tokai's commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community.
Yamao, during his visit, strongly criticized JR Tokai's handling of the situation. He argued that the company should not resume tunneling work without providing a thorough and clear explanation of the cause of the air bubbles and water surfacing, nor should they proceed without obtaining the consent of the affected landowners. He emphasized that resuming work without addressing these concerns and without proper agreement from the residents would be irresponsible and unacceptable.
The situation was further complicated by similar bubbling incidents reported in Shinagawa Ward, where air bubbles emerged in a local river. Local officials, including Hiroko Suzuki, pointed out that JR Tokai had initially downplayed the connection between these occurrences and the tunneling activities, stating that no clear relationship had been established. However, following this statement, the Shinagawa District Office formally requested that JR Tokai investigate the potential link. In response, JR Tokai acknowledged that they had not completely ruled out the possibility of a connection but ultimately failed to engage fully with the request for a thorough investigation.
This ongoing situation has raised significant concerns regarding transparency, accountability, and safety in the construction of the Linear Shinkansen. Local residents, elected officials, and experts alike are calling for more thorough investigations into the cause of these issues, more transparency from JR Tokai, and for the company to take greater responsibility for the environmental and social impacts of their large-scale infrastructure project. Yamao's visit and his outspoken criticism of the company's handling of the matter highlight the growing frustration and demand for greater accountability in this controversial project.
Info based on a press release by the Japan Communist Party:
https://www.jcp.or.jp/akahata/aik24/202 ... _04_0.html Accessed 2025-01-24