The successful closure of the 15-metre opening in the diversion
canal dam on the Yangtze River has again cut the natural flow of
the mighty river at the famed Three Gorges.
At
the damming site, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the
National People's Congress Li Peng praised workers for their
contribution to the 17-year multi-billion dollar project.
The project, scheduled to complete in 2009, is designed to harness
the world's third-longest river, which frequently bring floods to
people living in the river basin.
Li
said the damming of the diversion canal is crucial to meeting the
goals of the second phase, which includes filling the Three Gorges
Reservoir, commencing navigation through permanent ship locks, and
generating electricity by 2003.
The relocation of residents affected by the giant project is
crucial and the most difficult challenge faced in the project, Li
emphasized, adding that efforts should be made to ensure their
economic stability and well-being.
The 35-minute damming also attracted thousands of tourists, who
witnessed the event from on board ships and on the banks.
Guo Shuyan, director of the Three Gorges Project Engineering
Committee under the State Council, said the resettlement of the
residents from below the 135-metre water level will be accomplished
by the end of this year.
Guo revealed that technical standards have been well defined for
the removal of buildings, trees, garbage and solid waste, and
training has been provided for workers involved. Funding has
already been set aside for the achievement of these ends.
Local media said that to prevent dirty water from being duscharged
into the reservoir, Chongqing has already built 19 sewage and five
garbage disposal centres, accounting for 86 per cent and 54 per
cent of the planned total, respectively.
Hubei has started the construction of four sewage and four garbage
disposal centres that are expected to be finished before June
2003.
Meanwhile, Chinese scientists and experts are working around the
clock to consider the problem of potential accumulation of
sediment, or silt, in the reservoir.
Silt accumulation has always been an obstacle in the construction
of dams and reservoirs, and China is a leader in this area of
research, said Zhang Chaoran, chief engineer of the China Yangtze
Three Gorges Project Development Co.
Experts anticipate that upon completion, the Three Gorges Reservoir
could accumulate an average of 530 million tons of silt each year,
which would constitute a major threat to the normal functioning of
the project's hydroelectric plant.
Scientists have worked out a solution that involves discharging the
silt through a series of big holes in a strategic area of the
dam.
In
addition, the government has allocated a combined sum of 2 billion
yuan (US$241 million) for the project to protect the soil and water
in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and has also beefed up
financial support for an ambitious tree-planting project along the
river valley.
According to the Yangtze River Water Resources Committee, the State
Council, the nation's cabinet, has developed a long-term
comprehensive scheme to ensure the balanced development of the
river, including the construction of a number of water
reservoirs.
Two large reservoirs are planned for the turbulent Jinsha River,
one of the main tributaries of the Yangtze's upper reaches. They
will reduce silt accumulation by about 46 per cent upon completion,
chief engineer Zhang Chaoran said.
(China
Daily November 7, 2002)