A flood prevention program targeting the lower reaches of the
Yellow River is under way with loans of 240 million yuan (US$29
million) from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The program started in early September will build new high areas
and requires migration of 41,400 people in five counties of central
China's Henan
Province and east China's Shandong
Province, according to the Yellow River Water Resources
Committee.
The course of the Yellow River in its lower reaches is very
wide, with the widest area some 20 kilometers. Most parts of the
watercourse are arable in dry seasons. More and more people along
the river have moved to the area and farm there since the Yellow
River dike was breached in Lankao of Henan in 1855 and changed its
route. Now the beach area of the Yellow River is home to 1.8
million people.
The beach area is an important flood route. As the riverbed of
the Yellow River rose in the past ten years, a small amount of
water flow can cause floods in the area.
According to the flood prevention program, 42 villages in the
beach area will be formed into 11 large villages and high enough
lands will be constructed to give better protection from
floods.
(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2003)