Basic risk reduction work finished on "Quake Lakes"

Source: People's Daily | 07-03-2008 13:50

On July 2, the State Council of Information Office announced at a press conference that at present, the basic risk reduction work on the "quake lakes" has been finished. There were no injuries among personnel and no breaches in the reservoirs, hydropower stations, or dykes damaged by the earthquake. The temporary drinking water emergency in the disaster zone has been dealt with.

Vice Minister of Water Resources Jiao Yong explained at the press conference that as of now, basic risk reduction work on the "quake lakes" in the earthquake zone has been completed. 32 of the 35 "quake lakes" in the provinces of Sichuan and Gansu have been fully or almost fully cleared of danger. 2 have been designated as low-risk after construction work, and 1 low-risk "quake lake" is not in need of repairs.

Jiao Yong said that of the 2473 reservoirs damaged nationwide by the earthquake, 1803 of them were in Sichuan. Damage to water facilities in the earthquake zone was very severe, greatly affecting the safety of drinking water for over 9 million people. Furthermore, the damage to basic water resource facilities in rural areas was particularly serious. The Water Resources Department will work as hard as possible for the next three years to fully repair the hydraulic facilities damaged in the earthquake.

Editor:Xiong Qu