The Chinese government will earmark 8 billion yuan (US$1.2 billion) to reinforce small and medium-sized river banks against flooding, government officials said Thursday.
"The central government has shifted its stress of investment to small and medium-sized river control, and all the 8 billion yuan will be in place by the end of October," Zhang Shaochun, Vice Minister of Finance, said at a national conference on river regulation in Hefei, Anhui Province.
In contrast with large rivers, medium-sized and small rivers had been revealed as the weak link in the country's river control work after a series of flood-triggered disasters in recent years.
Under the government plans, the funds will be mainly used to reinforce river banks and dam medium-sized rivers, to increase their flood defense capabilities, improve the aquatic environment, and guarantee personal safety and grain security.
The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Water Resources would jointly intensify supervision to ensure the funds were properly and effectively used.
"All the river treatment projects will be under public scrutiny," said Jiao Yong, Vice Minister of Water Resources.
More than 8,600 small and medium-sized Chinese rivers faced flood risks.
According to the Ministry of Water Resources, small and medium-sized rivers are those with catchment areas ranging from 200 to 3,000 square kilometers.
Source: China.org.cn - China news
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