From our archives

Oct 8, 1983

Big cities urged to save water

Cities have been urged to economize on the use of water, as a long-term principle in China's economic development, at a current conference on water problems in urban areas.

The water shortage is becoming more and more acute as the national economy develops and the living standards of the people improve, said Chu Chuanheng, vice-minister of Urban and Rural Construction and Environmental Protection.

The daily water supply in the cities has increased at an annual rate of 2.26 million tons over the past four years, but still falls short of demand. And each urban resident now uses an average of 130 liters of running water daily, less than half the amount consumed in developed countries.

More jobs for Beijing's handicapped

Beijing has created 2,000 more job opportunities for deaf, mute, blind and other handicapped people in the past two years, a government official said recently.

More than 10,000 people, 70 percent of the city's handicapped who are able to work, are now employed, said Li Mengchun, a municipal official in charge of social relief.

The handicapped receive an average monthly salary of 60 yuan, about the same as common people. They also enjoy the same social welfare benefits including medical care, labor insurance and retirement pensions, Li said.

(China Daily 10/09/2008 page9)