Local officials said Monday that the project is the first step to turn Chongming at the mouth of the 6,300-km Yangtze River, China's longest, into an ecological-friendly resort.

The island, approximate 40 km north of Shanghai itself and covering an area of 1,083 sq.km (108,300 hectare), is where the river empties into the East Sea on the west Pacific.

According to the plan, an around-island river will be dug to connect the 29 rivers and streams that dot Chongming by 2005.

Five man-made lakes and shoal reservoirs with a total water surface of 24 sq km (2,400 hectare) will be built across the island, doubling its water supply capacity.

Moreover, as part of the project, 27 water locks will be added to regulate water supply.

Zhang Jiayi, director of the Shanghai Municipal Waterworks Bureau, cited water as crucial for the program to turn the island into an eco-friendly place for Shanghai itself.

Therefore, the municipality has listed the water system integration project as the top priority of infrastructure construction for its program to make it eco-friendly, said the official.

Moreover, the officials noted, the project will prevent sea water from contaminating some of its water sources during the dry season, and beef up its flood-control capability.

The eastern shoal on the island is an ideal haunt with swarms of migratory birds traveling across the Asia-Pacific region.

(Xinhua News Agency December 9, 2002)