BEIJING: China has identified risks in its water resources management facilities as it prepares to cope with flooding in some major river basins this year, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.
In a national survey of flood and drought risks, the ministry combed 97,000 reservoirs, 78,000 flood control sluices, 315,000 kilometers of dikes and 98 flood detention areas. Aside from learning about the general condition of these facilities, a series of risks have been identified, said Zheng Shichen, an official with the ministry’s Dam Safety Management Center.
Some reservoirs, for example, have seen flood control capabilities damaged due to previous deluges that overloaded their intended limits, he said. A number of earth and stone dams with cracks were found to be leaking.
“Some reservoir dams have inadequate safety monitoring and management facilities,” Zheng said. He said the ministry will use both engineering and other methods to eliminate safety hazards in 9,385 small reservoirs. While measures will be taken to reinforce some facilities, others will be emptied if the risks can’t be resolved before flood season, he said. This year, the ministry plans to strengthen 3,500 small-sized reservoirs found to have problems. A total of 3 billion yuan ($431 million) from the central government has been transferred to local governments for reinforcement work on 1,890 facilities. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
