Beijing residents will have access to water from the Yangtze River within 30 months, as the first-stage construction of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project's central route is expected to be completed in October 2014, Xinhua reported.

Yangtze River water will reach Shandong Province in December 2013 when the initial stage of the project's eastern route is finished, according to Zhang Ye, deputy head of the project office under the State Council.

Zhang called for efforts to complete construction on time to benefit the people.

The massive water transfer project is designed to take water from the Yangtze River to arid northern regions. Water will flow northward via three routes -- an eastern route, a central route and a western route.

China has invested 141.7 billion yuan (US$22.49 billion) in the project since 2002.

(China.org.cn April 9, 2012)

據新華社報道，南水北調中線一期工程將于2014年10月實現通水，這意味著北京居民再過30個月就能喝上長江水。

國務院南水北調辦公室副主任張野說，東線一期工程有望于2013年12月實現通水，屆時長江水將流進山東。

張副主任呼吁廣大建設者再接再厲，如期完成工程任務，使之造福于民。

南水北調是將長江水引入北方干旱地區的重大工程，水流將通過東、中、西三條線路，流進北方省份。

自2002年以來，該工程已完成投資1417億元。