THE open diversion channel of the Yangtze River is scheduled to be dammed at the end of November, according to the China Three Gorges Project Corporation.

　　Preparatory work for the open channel has begun  with the date for the dam work depending on water conditions. 

　　At a technological symposium held August 26, general manager of the corporation Lu Youmei said that in November, the Yangtze River would be totally blocked and forced to flow from the 22 bottom outlets of the dam. Two cofferdams would be put into use during the closure period.

　　The Three Gorges reservoir is scheduled to retain water from April next year, with the water level to rise to 135m by June ultimately reaching 175m in the next few years.

　　By then, a man-made lake with a total capacity of 39.3 billion cubic meters of water will form within the  mountain peaks.

　　A closure period of navigation of 67 days is forecast next year, with a resumption by June. By the second half of next year, electricity generators would gradually be put into operation to generate 5 billion-kw/h electricity, Lu said.

　　(SD-Agencies)