The Ministry of Water Resources released a set of compulsory technical standards Wednesday in a bid to improve the quality of water conservancy projects, which attracts broad concern in recent years.

Vice Minister Zhang Jiyao said that the standards, selected from those that have already taken effect, are vital to public security and environmental protection. And the Ministry will add new items into the standards.

Water conservancy projects are required to follow these standards, according to a document issued by the State Council.

The standards will also provide a clear and precise version for the government to supervise the construction of projects, Zhang said.

He also admitted that some items of the compulsory standards the country announced have proven to be too detailed and ambiguous and need to be deleted.

China has announced 296 compulsory standards for water conservancy projects, accounting for 67 percent of the total standards.

(People's Daily 01/10/01)