Japanese Loan Helps China's Spring City in Water ConservancyKunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, is stepping up a water conservation project to double its water supply by 2005, when the project will be fully implemented with the help of a Japanese loan.The project, launched at the end of 1999, includes the building of a new reservoir some 97 km north of the "city of spring," thus named for its mild climate and diverse plants, and a waterworks close to the city proper which foresees a supply of 600,000 tons of water upon its completion. Officials from the water conservancy administration say the project has been progressing well and a large percentage of the damming and digging is completed. The project was financed partly by the Japanese government with a loan of 20.9 billion Japanese yen (about US$150 million), which was to be used in purchasing building material, equipment and the laying of water pipes which will carry water from the far-off new reservoir to the city proper. Project officials said that they prefer Japanese loans because of its large amount and favorable conditions. Kunming is one of China's 14 cities that suffer from a shortage of water supply. Presently, the city's daily water supply stands at 650,000 tons, which will surpass 1.2 million tons when the new reservoir is completed. An official from the municipal government said the city will stress saving water among the citizens in an effort to ensure sustainable development. Possible measures may include an adjustment in the water price by charging more for water consumed beyond what is necessary for a family's daily life, the official said. |
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