A combined team of inspectors began on March 2 to examine and check the work of Hubei and Chongqing in clearing the bed for the Three Gorges Reservoir and urged them to finish the job before June.

The inspectors were from the State Environmental Protection Administration, the Ministry of Supervision, the State Planning Commission, the ministries of finance, construction, public health and water conservancy, the Office in charge of the Three Gorges Project, the State Forestry Bureau and the Hubei and Chongqing governments.

Zeng Xiaodong, the leader of the team, said that the Three Gorges project is a historic decision made by the party central committee in the need of China's economic and social development and environmental protection. He added that the team, responsible for the state, the people and history, will have to do a good job of the inspection.

(www.cenews.com.cn March 10, 2003)