The legislature of Shandong Province in east China has passed regulations on Yellow River flood prevention, according to a source with the provincial river affair bureau Tuesday.

The Regulation on Flood Control on the Yellow River of Shandong Province, cited as the first special law on the river's flood control, was voted through and promulgated by the provincial People's Congress last week.

In the past, flood prevention was administered under the Regulations on Flood Prevention of the People's Republic of China passed in 1991, and the Law on Flood Control adopted in 1997, said Hou Quanliang, deputy director of the Yellow River Water Conservancy Commission.

"The enforcement of the newly-passed regulations will provide a vital legal basis and powerful guarantee for flood-control effort in the province," said Zhang Huafu, deputy secretary-general of the provincial government.

The Yellow River has posed serious problems with more than 1,500 bursts and 26 diversions reported in recorded history.

Though the river has become much safer over the past 56 years, the danger of floodwater still existed, said Yuan Chongren, director of the provincial river affair bureau.

Shandong Province is located in the lower reaches of the river, which is a typical curve and narrow watercourse. There are some weakness in the province's flood prevention and control, he admitted.

"It is essential to regulate and rectify the control work according to the law," said Yuan. "Regulations can help resolve new problems in prevention work."

The regulations defined the organization, construction, commander and exercise of the flood-control team. Legal responsibilities of deregulation of duty were also defined in the regulations.

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2003)