It is learned from Guangzhou construction authorities that Guangzhou will invest RMB 4 billion in the construction of a water system this year. The West Water Way Diversion Project will get started by the end of this month and will draw 104 million cubic meters of flowing water every year.

The change in water-control philosophy reflects that Guangzhou has now been examining the role of rivers in the city from a strategic point of view, with sewage interception as its main purpose at the beginning, later to paying equal attention to sewage interception and water diversion, and now to developing simultaneously, landscape and water culture.

The key comprehensive management programs this year are the Shahe Chong Project, Liede Chong Project, Huadi River Project, Dasha River Project, Chebei Chong Project, Wuchong Project and Huangpu Chong Project. The rivers which have close ties to the citizens and around Asian Games stadiums are expected to complete renovation before 2010. In July, 2oo6, Guangzhou Municipal Office of Water System Construction will organize specialists to examine the comprehensive renovation schemes of the Dasha River, Huangpu Chong, Wuchong, Chebei Chong and complete the demolition of illegal buildings on seven rivers before the end of the month.

The recent goal is to form the framework of the water system on the whole and complete the comprehensive renovation work of "Two Chongs and One River", Shijing River, Huangpu Chong, Chigang Chong, Xilu Chong, Huadi River, Dasha River, Miaotou Chong, Chebei Chong, Wuchong, Wenchong, Nangang River, and Shiqiao River. Based on the sewage interception projects, Guangzhou will launch the West Water Way Diversion Project, Huanjiao Artificial Lake Project and Water Supplement Project to major rivers in the north of the urban center. In the long term, with the completion of the North Reservoir and the Artificial Lake, water source will be further added to the water environment and natural ecological rivers will be resumed.

Editor: Yan