Yellow River Water Diverted to Ease Drought in Shandong

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, September 24, 2002

Yellow River Water Diverted to Ease Drought in Shandong

The Ministry of Water Resources Emergently has decided to divert 600million cubic meters of water from the Yellow River to Support the Anti-drought Fight in Shandong.

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Reports from the Shandong Yellow River affairs bureau say the Yellow River Resources Committee under the Ministry of Water Resources has formally decided to divert at least 6oo million cubic meters of water from the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River in order to support the anti-drought fight and autumn seeding in the serious drought-stricken Shandong Province.

Yuan Chongren, director of the Shandong Yellow River affairs bureau said the Xiaolangdi Reservoir on the Yellow River will increase flow volume since Sep.25 on, and peaks with massive flow volume are expected to enter the Shandong section after Sep.27.

Since summer, Shandong, the major agricultural province in our country is badly hit by a severe drought due to the persistent hot weather and low rainfall. Estimates show that the direct economic loss has amounted to over 10 billion Yuan and the reduction of grain output 4 billion kilograms.

Thus, Shandong provincial government reported the condition to the State Council, asking to divert emergency water from the upper and middle reaches to assist their anti-drought fight. The central government and related state ministries showed unusual concern for the drought situation in Shandong, specially studying counter-measures and plans for water diverting.

According to concerning responsible officials of the Shandong Yellow River affairs bureau, the Yellow River committee has worked out a plan to divert water and help with the anti-drought fight and autumn seeding.

The plan is consisted of five parts: to increase flow volume of Liujia Gorge Reservoir in order to divert 200 million cubic meters to Shandong from late September to October; to decrease agricultural irrigation water in Ningxia and Inter Mongolia so as to add 200 million cubic meters; to excavate the reserve capacity of Wanjiazhai Reservoir with view to diverting 100 million cubic meters to Shandong; to raise another 100 million cubic meters from Xiaolangdi Reservoir for autumn seeding, when ensuring the drinking water and the river leave in navigation; and at the same time, to reduce the flow capacity to 30 from 50 cubic meters per second at the outlet of the Yellow River.

By implementing the plan, at least 600 million cubic meters is raised with a purpose to reap the greatest benefits from the limited water in the Yellow River and give all-out support to the province's anti-drought fight and autumn seeding.

By PD Online Staff Zhu Lizhen

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