Chinese Vice Premier Hui
Liangyu said Saturday that local governments must safeguard
large and medium-sized reservoirs on major rivers, and minimize
losses caused by floods and droughts.
Hui, a member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist
Party Central Committee, made the remarks at a national flood
control and drought relief work meeting held in the capital of
central China's Hubei Province.
From June 8 to 11, Hui, who is also chief of the State Flood
Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, visited major flood
control projects on the Yangtze River, Chinese longest river. The
sites include the Three Gorges Project, Jingjiang Dyke, Jingjiang
River Flood Diversion Area, Honghu Lake Flood Diversion Area and
Longwangmiao Embankment, where he inspected safety of reservoirs
and diversion areas, and visited with the officials and people.
This year's flood control has entered a crucial stage, said Hui.
The climate is changeable and the rain belts are unevenly located,
said Hui.
Flood control and drought relief at major rivers matters to the
whole national flood control, drought relief situation and China's
economic and social development, said Hui. Therefore, governments
and flood control departments at all drainage areas must fully
realize the severe situation and make full preparation, he
noted.
Localities must improve forecast of disastrous weathers and
closely monitor changes brought by weather and floods. Extra
efforts must be made on safety of reservoirs, prevention of
mountain torrents and typhoons, Hui said.
In addition, Hui urged local authorities at small and
medium-sized rivers, small and medium-sized cities and towns and
rural areas to strengthen flood control work.
Also on Saturday, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief
Headquarters said that the flooding in major Chinese rivers is
stable, but the drought in southwest China's Yunnan Province is
severe.
Yunnan has received less than 50 millimeters of rainfall in the
central and northwestern parts of the province since May 25. To
date, the drought has affected 667,000 hectares of farmland and
drinking water supply to more than 7 million people.
Southeastern parts of Sichuan Province and Tibet Autonomous
Region were also affected by droughts, said the headquarters.
On the other hand, continuous rainfall has raised the water
level at rivers in part of central China, but the seven major
rivers, which include the Yangtze and the Yellow River, are not
facing flood threat, said the headquarters.
From Friday to Saturday, torrential rains hit southern part of
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China, provinces of Hunan
and Henan in central China. Water levels of Dongting Lake in Hunan
and the Yangtze River were raised slightly.
In Guangxi, flood peak at Xijiang River has passed the key flood
control city Wuzhou. Water level of Huaihe River in central regions
is also rising but will not exceed the alarm line, it said.
In the coming three days, heavy rain will hit parts of south and
southwest China, and some places may receive gales, thundershowers
and hails, according to weather forecast by Central Meteorological
Station.
In the coming 10 days, the main rain belt will be in southeast,
south and southwest parts of China with the rainfall more than in
previous years in most places, it said.
The headquarters urged localities to closely monitor flood and
drought situation and safeguard reservoirs.
(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2005)