The Drought Disaster Relief Center of Taiwan has decided to proceed with its water rationing plan in the areas supported by the Shihmen Reservoir starting from next Monday, according to reports reaching Hong Kong from Taipei.
Following measures to lower the water pressure during nighttime hours, Kuo Yao-chi, director-general of the Drought Disaster Relief Center, Thursday decided to proceed to the next stage of water rationing to counter the persisting drought in Taiwan.
After a three-hour meeting, Kuo announced that starting from May 13, the areas supported by the Shihmen Reservoir would face water suspension for all day on Saturdays and for half the day on Sundays.
The areas would include some towns in Taoyuan and Taipei County.
The suspension period was designated to last from 12 a.m. Saturday to 12 p.m. Sunday with the first suspension beginning next Saturday on May 18.
(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2002)
