Noise accounts for most of environmental disputes

SEOUL, July 14 (Yonhap) -- Noise pollution was the primary cause of most of the environmental disputes settled during the first half of this year, the environmental ministry said Thursday.
   A total of 76 environmental disputes were handled by the central environmental dispute settlement committee of the Ministry of Environment in the January-June period, according to the ministry.
   Of the total, 68 cases, or roughly 9 out of every 10 cases, were filed in response to unwanted noise or excessive vibrations, mostly stemming from construction work in the neighborhood, the ministry said. Air pollution and other causes triggered the rest of the disputes.
   In nearly 30 percent of all conflicts people claimed psychological harm due to environmental hazards, followed by claims of property damage and livestock and agricultural production losses, according to the ministry.
   Construction of new apartment complexes or development of large bridges were usually triggers for such fights in nearby areas, it added.
   The Seoul capital area was the region with the most frequent disputes over environmental conditions, trailed by South Gyeongsang Province and Gyeonggi Province, the ministry noted.