Project's delay leaves Beijing thirsty

BEIJING - The delay of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project is accelerating the water crisis in the capital, where 17.55 million people are overdrawing inadequate supplies, experts said.

The project was planned to transfer 1 billion cubic meters of water to the capital in 2010, but its completion has been postponed until 2014.

According to Beijing's urban planning design (2004-2020), the city's annual water demand will be 4 to 5 billion cubic meters by 2020. The water diversion project will transfer at least 1 billion cubic meters of water every year.