THE Ministry of Water Resources will divert 600 million cubic meters of water from the Yellow River to relieve the severe drought in Shandong.

　　Yuan Chongren, director of the Shandong Yellow River Affairs Bureau, said the Xiaolangdi Reservoir on the Yellow River would increase the volume of flow from today, and peaks of massive flow volumes were expected to enter Shandong after two days.

　　Shandong, the major agricultural province in the country, has been badly hit by a severe drought since summer.

　　Estimates indicate that the direct economic loss has amounted to over 10 billion yuan and the reduction of grain output by four hundred million tonnes.

　　The Shandong Provincial Government asked the State Council to divert emergency water from the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River to relieve the drought.

　　The Central Government and related State ministries showed concern for the drought situation in Shandong, studying counter-measures and plans for diverting water.

　　According to officials of the Shandong Yellow River Affairs Bureau, the Yellow River Committee has worked out a plan to divert water and help with autumn planting.

　　The plan comprises five parts which include increasing the flow volume from the Liujia Gorge Reservoir to divert 200 million cubic meters to Shandong from late September to October and decreasing agricultural irrigation water in Ningxia and Inner Mongolia, adding 200 million cubic meters. It also includes excavation to increase the reserve capacity of Wanjiazhai Reservoir with the view to diverting 100 million cubic meters to Shandong and to raise another 100 million cubic meters from Xiaolangdi Reservoir for autumn planting, ensuring adequate water for drinking and navigation.

　　At the same time, the plan aims to reduce the flow capacity from 50 to 30 cubic meters per second at the outlet of the Yellow River.

　　By implementing the plan, at least 600 million cubic meters would be raised with the purpose of reaping the greatest benefit from the limited water in the Yellow River and give all-out support to the province’s anti-drought fight and autumn planting.

　　(SD-Agencies)