Construction of the first phase of the west route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project is scheduled to begin in 2010, says a source from the Yellow River Water Resources Committee.

The South-to-North Water Diversion Project, a result of 50 years investigation and research, aims to divert water from the south to the north of China to ensure a water supply for farming, industry and inhabitants.

The Draft Outline of the Tenth Five-Year plan for National Economic and Social Development (2001-2005) proposes that three routes -- the east, middle and west routes -- will divert water from three places along the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River to the northern destinations.

"By 2010, the first and second phases of the east route construction and the first phase of the middle route should be completed," said Zhang Jiyao, vice-minister of Water Resources.

The construction of the west route, the largest of the three, will cost over 300 billion yuan (about US$36 billion), and is expected to divert 17 billion cubic meters of water from rivers on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to the Yellow River valley.

"Although there is a huge technical problem in the west route, we have found a relatively easy way to carry out the project step by step," said Li Guoying, the director of the Yellow River Water Resources Committee.

The first phase of this route, which will divert 4 billion cubic meters of water, needs an investment of 46.9 billion yuan (US$5.65 billion), according to the Yellow River harnessing and development priority plan recently issued by the State Council. 　　

Li said the construction of the west route would play an important role in making the river flow faster in the lower reaches and preventing the banks building up from siltation. It would also eventually prevent the Yellow River running dry.

(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2002)