China will experience a serious water crisis in 30 years, according
to information released by the Ministry of Water Resources on
Thursday.
The ministry reported that China's per capita water resources quota
will be only 1,700 cubic meters, a generally acknowledged danger
limit, by 2030, when its population reaches 1.6 billion.
China's gross water resources come to 2.81 trillion cubic meters.
Calculations made based on population and acreage of arable land in
1997 show the country's per capita water resources quota is only
2,200 cubic meters, 25 percent of the world's average.
By
2030, water resources quota for per mu (15 mus equal to one
hectare) of arable land will be 1,900 cubic meters, 80 percent of
the world's average.
However, the fact is that China's water resources and arable land
are not balanced between the northern and southern parts.
Statistics show that more than 80 percent of the country's water
resources are distributed in the Yangtze River Valleys and areas to
the south of the Yangtze. These areas account for 53.5 percent of
the population of China and 35.2 percent of the nation' s total
acreage of arable land.
Meanwhile, only 14.7 percent of the country's water resources are
distributed in the vast areas to the north of the Yangtze, where
the amount of arable land accounts for 59.2 percent of the national
total, and the population makes up 44.4 percent of the total
number.
The Yellow, Huaihe and Haihe river valleys in northern China face
the most serious water shortages.
Zhang Jirao, vice-minister of water resources, said that China's
major rivers all run from west to east and are separated by
watersheds.
Zhang said building water diversion projects that cover different
river valleys is important for adjusting water resources in the
country and guaranteeing China's sustainable economic development
and social progress.
(China
Daily November 16, 2001)