Cai Qihua, director of the Yangtze River Water Resources Committee, said on Wednesday that flood prevention on the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River remains a serious problem this year. Cai was addressing a meeting on flood prevention in central China’s Hubei Province.

He pointed out that the dams on the Yangtze River’s branches remain weak, though the dikes of the longest river in China have improved after being reinforced several times.

Also, the Three Gorges Reservoir does not have the capability to adjust effectively the flood discharge on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Draining clear water from the reservoir might even lead to changes in the riverbeds at some sections of the river, according to Cai.

Luo Qingquan, governor of Hubei Province and commander-in-chief of the Yangtze River Flood Control Headquarters, demanded that departments concerned modify the flood prevention plan and improve their ability to cope with an emergency.

According to forecasts from the meteorology and hydrology departments, there will be two “rainfall strips” covering large areas of southern China, including Hubei, along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River.

(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2004)