TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — DPP Taipei City councilors on Thursday criticized Taipei City Research, Development and Evaluation Commission Chair Yin Wei (殷瑋) over his claim that a bird's-nest fern found inside a covered street gutter had been washed into the drainage system.
Recent flooding in Taipei's Neihu District has drawn criticism of Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安). At an unrelated event, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) urged Chiang to determine the cause of the flooding while praising DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen (沈伯洋) for helping flood victims secure compensation, per PTS.
A photo of a bird's-nest fern reportedly found inside a street gutter prompted further criticism from the DPP, with councillors arguing the plant showed the city had failed to properly clear its drainage system before the flooding. Commenting on the photo, Yin said expert opinions sought by Environmental Protection Department Commissioner Shyu Shyh-shiun (徐世勲) concluded the fern most likely had been washed into the drainage system and became lodged where the water flow slowed at a bend, per China Times.
DPP Taipei City Councilor Ho Meng-hua (何孟樺) rejected the explanation, arguing that because Taipei's street gutters feed into underground drainage channels, it is unlikely a fern washed down from nearby mountains would appear in another street gutter, per Liberty Times. She said the explanation contradicts both the city's geography and the design of its drainage infrastructure.
DPP Taipei City Councilor Chien Shu-pei (簡舒培) echoed Ho's assessment, questioning whether the botanists cited by the city had conducted field surveys. She also accused the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission and the Environmental Protection Department of providing misleading information to Chiang so the city government could avoid responsibility for failing to properly maintain its drainage system.
Shen also weighed in Wednesday, saying he welcomed Chiang's efforts to oversee Taipei's preparations for Typhoon Bavi, per TVBS. He added that the only casualties of the city's campaign to clear its drainage systems appeared to be the bird's-nest ferns.
Taipei Deputy Spokesperson Wei Wen-hsuan (魏汶萱) defended Yin, saying his comments were based on opinions from National Taiwan University professors Sun En-jang (孫岩章) and Wu Jiunn-tzong (吳俊宗), per Liberty Times.
Commenting on the discovery of bird's-nest ferns in gutters, Sun said it is natural for ferns and weeds to grow in gutters and that they pose little risk unless they become too large, per UDN. He said it typically takes large pieces of wood, such as logs or branches found on forest floors, to significantly obstruct water flow.
Regarding the large bird's-nest fern shown in the widely circulated photograph, Sun said it may have been washed into the gutter. Wu agreed, saying ferns are usually removed while still small or carried away by the current.
Wu added that because fern leaves are soft, they bend with the flow of water and are unlikely to clog a gutter.
Taipei's Environmental Protection Department said it has stepped up gutter-clearing operations, per NOWNews. Responding to criticism that too little work was being done, the department said most clearing is carried out early in the morning to minimize disruption to traffic.
