Most municipalities that had dam projects in the works until the new government announced their suspension oppose the halt in construction and condemned how the decision was made, a Kyodo News survey showed Thursday.
Of the 44 municipalities that had responded to the survey by Thursday, 30 said they are against the suspension of the projects, while none supported it.
They were also apparently dissatisfied that Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara decided on the suspension without discussing it with the 48 municipalities involved, with 34 of the responding municipalities saying the government must heed the views of the people who will be affected before making such a decision.
Maehara said in early October the government will suspend 48 dam projects nationwide for the rest of the current fiscal year through next March.
The town of Biratori, Hokkaido, said it cannot accept the government's "top-down approach" in setting the moratorium.