Protecting water resources

[bikkuri bahn]

Lawmakers to submit bill to protect water resources in Japan

 

Alarmed by purchases of water resources-rich Japanese forests by foreign firms, a group of lawmakers will submit to the current session of the Diet a bill to help secure water resources.

 

The move comes as foreign concerns are snapping up forests, raising apprehensions about massive water intakes. Members of a suprapartisan caucus, including lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the largest opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and New Komeito, say the bill defines groundwater as a nationally valuable asset and urges the central and local governments to curb foreign purchases of such forests.

 

I hope this bill passes.  One of Hokkaido's precious resources is its fresh water (and there is plenty here).  Some day water may be more precious than oil.

 

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20120220p2a00m0na017000c.html