Shanghai city is drawing up a blueprint to shape its overall water
landscape so as to enhance its international attraction and make
the local environment more beautiful, according to the water
authority.
It
is guided by the principle that water represents a key resource
that boosts the economy, culture and the image of Shanghai. For the
first time, Shanghai spotlights water scenery and lists it high on
the government's schedule by 2005.
"The city will take its entire water system into consideration and
work out a sustainable water landscaping plan," said Zhang Jiayi,
general director of the Shanghai Municipal Water Resources
Bureau.
The move is geared to boost the city's entertainment activities,
the yachting industry and to promote water tours, Zhang said.
The newly launched waterfront development of the Huangpu River are
also part of the blueprint for water landscape development
The city is concerned that the scenery construction plans do not
detract from the importance attached to three other city problems:
water safety, water resources and water environment.
The city will complete construction of the dam between the sea and
the river to protect Shanghai from floods.
On
the basis of the enhancement of the city's anti-flooding capacity
and to guarantee public safety, the water quality improvement will
be continued, as the city is reducing sources of pollution and
setting up more sewage treatment plants.
The city is also introducing more water from the Yangtze River,
whose quality is better than that of the Huangpu River, which has
so far been the main water source for the city. In addition, three
major tap-water factories will be renovated and small factories in
the suburbs will be merged.
By
2005, about 1,000 kilometres of underground water pipes will have
been renewed to prevent the water becoming polluted during
distribution.
Such projects are estimated to cost 36 billion yuan (US$4.36
billion) -- 7.9 billion yuan (US$951 million) on safety, 11.9
billion yuan (US$1.43 billion) on resources and 14 billion yuan
(US$1.69 billion) on waste treatment.
Zhang said the government will be responsible for one-third of the
investment and the rest will be gathered through other channels,
including foreign investment. Foreign investors have shown interest
in sewage treatment and tap-water production, he said.
(China
Daily April 1, 2002)