China will conduct safety checks on more than 2,200 reservoirs nationwide in the next three years and reinforce those that are structurally unsound or in need of repair, a senior water resource official said Saturday.

Construction workers reinforce the Dongfanghong reservoir in Rongchang County, Chongqing Municipality, in southwestern China on March 20. The structural integrity of many reservoirs across the county has declined over the years, and the reservoirs need to be reinforced.

Water Resources Minister Chen Lei said the country's disaster prevention and reduction system are still inadequate and that many reservoirs contain safety hazards, the China News Service reported.

Chen said the ministry would detect and eliminate safety hazards on more that 2,200 reservoirs across the country and make sure that large and key reservoirs are safe.

Chen made the remarks at an event for "China Water Week," a program commemorating World Water Day on March 22.

(CRI March 24, 2008)