Huaihe River authorities drive flow of new safety measures

Officials are working to provide safer lives for people in a flood-prone area that straddles four provinces. Zhu Lixin reports from Fuyang, Anhui.

Wang Pinsan stood in front of a row of two-and three-story houses built on land that stands a few meters higher than regular farmland in Wangjiaba village, Funan county, in the eastern province of Anhui.

"When flooding occurs, these houses, most of which have been rebuilt in recent years, become islands that protect our lives," Wang said.

The 65-year-old has experienced that problem many times. In fact, his family did not dare build good houses until about 10 years ago, when the local government rebuilt the village.

Several hundred meters from the village, which is prone to flooding, are the Huaihe River, which is about 1,000 kilometers long, and the Wangjiaba sluice gates, a major flood diversion project located near the confluence of the Huaihe and two other rivers.

Alongside the sluice gates is a scarlet inscription written by Chairman Mao Zedong that reads, "The Huaihe River must be harnessed well."

Thanks to measures taken by the government, Wang is no longer frightened of floods, even though the memories are still fresh.