<論文>山間部のゴミ処分場建設と飲料水問題 : 上流域住民vs.下流域住民

Recently a number of private waste disposal companies have constructed numerous final disposal sites in mountainous areas far from Tokyo. This construction boom has come about as a result of a demand from underpopulated rural districts and because of the lack of any local movements against the construction. This study investigates the case of a final disposal site at Yonezawa city near the boundary between Fukushima prefecture and Yamagata prefecture. This site was constructed five years ago in a mountainous village named Itaya located in the southeastern part of Yonezawa city at the upper reaches of the Matsukawa River. This river is the source of drinking water for Fukushima city, which is located downstream from the river. Judging from this location, between the upper and the lower reaches of the river, it is understandable to see how some residents downstream in Fukushima city are worried that this disposal site might someday become a source of contamination of their drinking water. For this reason, they have started a movement against construction of the site in Itaya. Legally however, they are not entitled to oppose the construction because they are not residents of Yonezawa city. Because of this, downstream residents in Fukushima city can not deal effectively with the site\u27s construction. I propose that both local goverments of the upper and lower reaches of the river take collective responsibility to keep the source of drinking water clean, and to change city limits in consideration of water resources