Beijing residents will have access to water from the Yangtze River within 30 months, as the first-stage construction of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project's central route is expected to be completed in October 2014, Xinhua reported.

Yangtze River water will reach Shandong Province in December 2013 when the initial stage of the project's eastern route is finished, according to Zhang Ye, deputy head of the project office under the State Council.

Zhang called for efforts to complete construction on time to benefit the people.

The massive water transfer project is designed to take water from the Yangtze River to arid northern regions. Water will flow northward via three routes -- an eastern route, a central route and a western route.

China has invested 141.7 billion yuan (US$22.49 billion) in the project since 2002.

(China.org.cn April 9, 2012)

据新华社报道，南水北调中线一期工程将于2014年10月实现通水，这意味着北京居民再过30个月就能喝上长江水。

国务院南水北调办公室副主任张野说，东线一期工程有望于2013年12月实现通水，届时长江水将流进山东。

张副主任呼吁广大建设者再接再厉，如期完成工程任务，使之造福于民。

南水北调是将长江水引入北方干旱地区的重大工程，水流将通过东、中、西三条线路，流进北方省份。

自2002年以来，该工程已完成投资1417亿元。