Huge diversion project to keep China’s north watered

BEIJING: China has transferred 10 billion cubic metres of fresh water from the country’s south to its droughtprone north in the few years since a massive water diversion project came onstream, authorities said.

In recent decades, water supplies have been challenged by protracted droughts, a surging population, agriculture and unprecedented manufacturing growth.

China aims to ultimately supply 44.8 billion cubic metres annually to the north via the ambitious water diversion project.

The expensive engineering project, which involves transferring water from the south via three major routes, was first mooted as early as the 1950s.

Along the middle route the water pumped from the Yangtze River has gone to Beijing, Tianjin and the provinces of Henan and Hebei, according to the SouthtoNorth Water Diversion Office under the State Council, or Cabinet.

The project has supplied 2.7 billion cubic metres of water to Beijing, serving 11 million people.

Currently, about 70% of Beijing’s water comes from the project.

China aims to keep national annual water consumption below 670 billion cubic metres through to 2020, as part of efforts to ease chronic regional shortages by cutting waste and boosting efficiency. — Reuters