Environment     

Drought grips northern China, ruining crops

CNTV, August 11, 2014

• More than 80,000 people are facing drinking water shortages in the province. In Nianzigou Village, 52 of the 56 big wells have dried-up. Villagers are forced to fetch water from places three or four kilometers away from their homes.

  "Look at this well. It used to supply water to more than 40 households. It began to dry from May and there is not a drop of water left now," said a Nianzigou Village resident, pointing at a dry well.

  "There are four wells being dug in Yixian County. We plan to drill 50 more. We are raising funds for digging more wells so as to alleviate the drought," said Zhang Xiaolan.

  Water authorities have dispatched workers to mountainous areas to help seek alternative water sources.

  Authorities have also tried cloud seeding to ease the drought.

  Severe drought has persisted for nearly a month in Liaoning Province, with the Huludao City the worst hit. More than 45,000 residents in the city have found it difficult to obtain drinking water.

  The drought in the town of Gangyaoling has lasted for nearly two months. All the wells have dried up. The government of the town has rented two vehicles to deliver 30 tons of water to the town.

  "(all the well) have dried up. There is not a drop of water in the village if not for this vehicles," said a resident of the township's Songyan Village.

  The local government said it has earmarked funds for all the villages to dig wells and seek other water sources.

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