Water Pollution in Three Gorges Dam Warned

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, November 30, 2001

Water Pollution in Three Gorges Dam Warned

Millions of tons of garbage and industrial waste could seriously affect the water quality and operation of the Three Gorges dam project in China if clean-up measures are not taken immediately, a Chinese environmental official has warned.

World's Biggest Dam Ready for Water Storage in 2003

The world's biggest dam, which is under construction in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, is scheduled to be ready for water storage in 2003. Garbage and waste left untreated along the river will be submerged if not cleaned away.

"If the rubbish is left inside the reservoir, the pollution could become worse and normal operation of the hydropower station will be affected," said Liu Qifeng with the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA).

Measures to Curb Water Pollution

But the central government has decided to prevent this from happening, he told a press conference Thursday.

The State Council, China's cabinet, has approved a ten-year plan focusing on water pollution control in the dam area and the upper reaches of the Yangtze.

By investing about 40 billion yuan (4.8 billion U.S. dollars), the central government will help five provinces build water and garbage treatment facilities, upgrade the pollution control facilities of factories, and improve the environment.

By 2010, there will be 146 waste water disposal centers and 161 garbage treatment plants in cities and towns around the reservoir, Liu said.

Paper mills, fertilizer plants, wine breweries, mines and other heavy-polluters will be closed if they fail to meet the pollutant emission standards set by the state, he said.

More Trees Needed to Prevent Soil Erosion

Fearing soil erosion may cause severe silting in the reservoir, environmental protection authorities have urged local people to plant trees on slope farmland which is vulnerable to erosion due to the lack of vegetation.

The upper reaches of the Yangtze River will be widely afforested to keep the river clean, Liu said.

A group of key officials from the SEPA and other departments will oversee the implementation of the plan.

About the Dam Project

The Three Gorges dam project was started in 1993 and will last another eight years. When the dam begins storing water in 2003, a permanent ship's lock and the first group of power generators will become operational.

The Three Gorges Dam -- on the main stem of the Yangtze River, the third longest river in the world -- will be the world's most powerful hydropower dam. Between 1.2 and 1.9 million people are expected to be forced to leave their homes and 620,000 acres of farmland will be lost. The project is estimated to cost more than $26 billion and to generate 18,200-MW of electricity. In addition to producing power, this 152-meter high multipurpose dam is intended to control floods and assist river navigation. Critics charge that it could worsen the severity of flooding and that it will do little to increase river traffic. Archeologists estimate that approximately 8,000 cultural sites will be flooded.

The Three Gorges Dam Project

Location : Sandouping, Yichang, Hubei province

Height:181 meters

Expected investment: 203.9 billion renminbi (US$24.65 billion)

Number of migrants: 1.13 million

Installed power generation capacity: 18.2 million kilowatts

Functions: Flood control, power generation, improved navigation

Construction timetable:

1993-1997: The Yangtze River was diverted after four years in November 1997

1998-2003: The first batch of generators will begin to generate power in 2003 and a permanent ship lock is scheduled to open for navigation the same year.

2004-2009: The entire project is to be completed by 2009 when all 26 generators will be able to generate power.

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