An environmental control system has been introduced in highly difficult items that are to be built through the embankments of the Yangtze River and items that are designed to solidify the base of the embankments or prevent leakage. This is the first project that is to be financed by the key national bond for environmental supervision.

The more than 50 engineers supervise over the construction items and environmental impacts they may bring to the environs, as well as water quality protection, environmental air pollution prevention, noise control, schistosomiasis prevention,, engineering waste soil disposal, the protection of endangered aquatic animal protection, ecological restoration at work-sites and human health. The chief engineer may have the right to veto any project when he deems it is not environmentally friendly.

The total investment in the efforts amounts to 6.4 billion yuan.

The control center of the Yangtze River Water Conservancy Committee and the Yangtze River water resource protection institute established an environmental control station for the purpose in 2001. Its engineers take care of the environmental supervision over 74 sections in 20 items under construction over the more than 1000 km long middle and lower Yangtze River valley in Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi and Anhui.

They have monitored the water quality of 16 sites where construction projects are under way and noise control in four other areas. The results show that these projects have not affected the water quality of the Yangtze and the noise value was up to state-prescribed standards.

(www.cenews.com.cn November 11, 2002)