The watershed villagers were requested to provide hard physical labor, and in addition, some were forced to move from their own houses due to the construction and some were concerned about the water shortage caused by the lowered water level, which led to a surging opposition movement against the diversion contraction.
流域の村々には重労働の提供が求められ、更には工事の為の移転を余儀なくされる者、水位の低下による水不足を心配する者もあり、分水工事反対の声が逆に強まっていった。