Cai Qihua, director of the Yangtze River Water Resources
Committee, said on Wednesday that flood prevention on the middle
and lower reaches of the Yangtze River remains a serious problem
this year. Cai was addressing a meeting on flood prevention in
central China’s Hubei
Province.
He pointed out that the dams on the Yangtze River’s branches
remain weak, though the dikes of the longest river in China have
improved after being reinforced several times.
Also, the Three Gorges Reservoir does not have the capability to
adjust effectively the flood discharge on the middle reaches of the
Yangtze River. Draining clear water from the reservoir might even
lead to changes in the riverbeds at some sections of the river,
according to Cai.
Luo Qingquan, governor of Hubei Province and commander-in-chief
of the Yangtze River Flood Control Headquarters, demanded that
departments concerned modify the flood prevention plan and improve
their ability to cope with an emergency.
According to forecasts from the meteorology and hydrology
departments, there will be two “rainfall strips” covering large
areas of southern China, including Hubei, along the middle reaches
of the Yangtze River.
(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2004)