Under China's newly revised water law, the country's vital water resources will be brought under integrated administration and management, it was announced at a press conference yesterday in Beijing.

The revised law, strategically important in the quest for sustainable development, becomes effective on October 1.

Water authorities throughout China will control water supplies, the construction of key water projects, and resource distribution and planning to optimize regional water resources, control pollution and create a water-saving society, a leading water official said at the press conference. The law was revised about a month ago by the 29th session of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Jing Zhengshu, vice-minister of water resources, made it clear at the press conference that, as of October 1, water authorities will be the "only dragon" - that is, the only boss -as far as the administration of water resources and water-related affairs is concerned. Urban citizens may also have to pay much more for the water they use because the new law allows advanced water pricing if users exceed their water quotas.

Those causing water pollution or building projects in flood discharging channels will be either forced to improve the resources or remove such buildings as well as pay heavy fines of up to 100,000 yuan (US$12,048).

(China Daily September 6, 2002)