China to dig 1,350 wells to ease drought
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China plans to dig 1,350 wells in eight major wheat-growing provinces to help ease the ongoing drought that is threatening the country's grain harvest, officials at the Ministry of Land and Resources (MLR) said on Friday.
The ministry will establish an anti-drought and well drilling operation headquarters and three front working teams in north China, Huanghuai area (along the Yellow and Huaihe rivers) and northwest China, the MLR announced during a video conference.
The MLR added that the China Geological Survey, which is an institution directly under the MLR, will transfer experienced technicians from its nine affiliated units to form three emergency squads and 12 emergency groups to assist local governments in finding water in the regions.
Furthermore, the MLR will send geological survey teams from its nine affiliated units and eight provinces, which includes Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou.
The survey teams will also bring 100 sets of advanced geophysical prospecting instruments and 320 sets of drilling rigs to dig 1,350 wells to ease the water shortages affecting the population and livestock. The agency noted that the project will help people in mountainous areas and strengthen local irrigation.
The eight provinces include Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu and Jiangsu, which are China's major wheat-producing regions. The areas have been severely affected by months of drought.
The MLR had previously put in place a series of measures to relieve drought and find water, such as making underground water layout maps and sending experts to drought-hit regions to provide technical guidance.
Also on Friday, the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) urged local bureaux to increase anti-drought relief funds and deliver water for residents in drought-hit areas in order to provide for basic living standards.
Civil affairs departments were also asked to work closely with meteorological, agricultural and water resource departments to map out emergency plans to counter the drought.
As of 3 p.m. on Thursday, the drought had affected 101.28 million mu (6.75 million hectares) of crops nationwide and left 2.81 million people and 2.57 million livestock lacking in drinking water, said the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.
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