Key changes to boost water resources

By Chen Jia (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-03-23 08:28

China will step up efforts in 10 key areas of water systems management to ensure its sustainable development, Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei said over the weekend.

Chen made the announcement on the sidelines of the 5th World Water Forum, which ended in the Turkish city Istanbul yesterday.

Chen said the 10 aspects would be the reinforcement of risky reservoirs in the country, rural drinking water security, upgrading water-saving facilities in large irrigation areas, comprehensive management of major rivers and lakes, upgrading large irrigation pumping stations, key water projects at sources, infrastructure on farmland, water and soil conservation, rural hydropower development and electrification and capacity building in the future.

"We will also promote restructuring to improve water management," he said, adding the government will implement laws and policies to ensure sustainable socio-economic development.

During the past three decades, China has carried out intensive work on its major rivers and lakes, including the Yangtze River, Yellow River and Haihe River, with the annual combined capacity of the various water projects already 659.1 billion cu m, giving 246 million rural residents access to safe drinking water.

"We have put an end to the days when drinking water was scarce in rural China," said Chen, adding that the country has managed to feed 21 percent of the world's population with just 6 percent of its total freshwater resources and 9 percent of its arable land.

China has already reinforced 3,733 dams, while its major hydro-projects have survived the secondary disasters brought on by the Sichuan earthquake in 2008, he said.

Also, to enhance people's awareness of conserving water resources, the government yesterday launched a poll to select a national water-saving ambassador to mark the 17th World Water Day.

China was also welcomed into the World Water Council (WWC) "family" by its president Loic Fauchon during the forum on Saturday as officials finalized a pact with the organization, which was set up in 1996 to "promote awareness on critical water issues at all levels".

Xinhua contributed to the story