The South-North Water Division is an infrastructure project of China to better utilize water resources available to China, distributing water from the Southern China to the Northern China. However, the plan has drained most of the water out of Hubei. Along with the building of the dam in Hubei, it had resulted in more environmental problems, causing the government to set aside 100 billion Yuan and to displace at least 1.2 million people. Farmers living near Danjiangkou Reservoir also worry that the water transfer project occurring there will cause similar problems as the dam. Furthermore, the south is getting drier due to climate change. The amount of water that will be able to pump to the North will be minimal. Moreover, water pumped from Yangzhou to Tianjin is not only costly but also polluted. Also, most city dwellers have no idea that their cousins in the countryside had sacrifice to provide the water that they need, thinking that the water transfer project will be able to quench their thirst for more water. I believe this water transfer project is not well planned from the very beginning. What is done for the common good and industrialization is now wrecking havoc. For instance, the North-South Water Diversion has caused severe drought draining Hubei, which is the province of a thousand lakes. I think it is ironic that in a bid to make life better, the situation worsens. It is an outrage to learn that a lot of the money used to compensate the people is often siphoned off by corrupted officials. It is mockery to learn that in a country known for social campaigns, little is done to convey the message that water is precious! Globalization and industrialization has brought with them many problems including pollution and numerous environmental problems. I think the attitude of the citizens ought to change. It is interesting to note that city dwellers pale in comparison to those who live in the countryside. A Beijing women was spotted throwing away her half drunk bottle of mineral water saying that it would ruin the shape of her handbag due to its weight. She had actually said that the North-South Water Diversion would ensure that the capital would not run out of water. But the truth is, if her attitude and many like hers continue, water will be a problem. The writer of the article put it aptly when she stated that the city folks ‘’fritter away water with abandon’’. The imagery is that of water being wasted on a big scale without much thought. I think the Chinese are also using too much water for leisure purposes such as the operations of spas, Water Park and golf courses. Along with the fact that the Chinese often embark on enormous infrastructure projects, China water problem will remain unsolved. I think it takes concerted effort on everybody’s part and a change in the mindset to curb the problem before it spirals out of control.
Water transfer project no cure-all for waste
Ho Ai Li
The South-North Water Division is an infrastructure project of China to better utilize water resources available to China, distributing water from the Southern China to the Northern China. However, the plan has drained most of the water out of Hubei. Along with the building of the dam in Hubei, it had resulted in more environmental problems, causing the government to set aside 100 billion Yuan and to displace at least 1.2 million people. Farmers living near Danjiangkou Reservoir also worry that the water transfer project occurring there will cause similar problems as the dam.Furthermore, the south is getting drier due to climate change. The amount of water that will be able to pump to the North will be minimal. Moreover, water pumped from Yangzhou to Tianjin is not only costly but also polluted.
Also, most city dwellers have no idea that their cousins in the countryside had sacrifice to provide the water that they need, thinking that the water transfer project will be able to quench their thirst for more water.
I believe this water transfer project is not well planned from the very beginning. What is done for the common good and industrialization is now wrecking havoc. For instance, the North-South Water Diversion has caused severe drought draining Hubei, which is the province of a thousand lakes. I think it is ironic that in a bid to make life better, the situation worsens.
It is an outrage to learn that a lot of the money used to compensate the people is often siphoned off by corrupted officials. It is mockery to learn that in a country known for social campaigns, little is done to convey the message that water is precious!
Globalization and industrialization has brought with them many problems including pollution and numerous environmental problems.
I think the attitude of the citizens ought to change. It is interesting to note that city dwellers pale in comparison to those who live in the countryside. A Beijing women was spotted throwing away her half drunk bottle of mineral water saying that it would ruin the shape of her handbag due to its weight. She had actually said that the North-South Water Diversion would ensure that the capital would not run out of water. But the truth is, if her attitude and many like hers continue, water will be a problem. The writer of the article put it aptly when she stated that the city folks ‘’fritter away water with abandon’’. The imagery is that of water being wasted on a big scale without much thought.
I think the Chinese are also using too much water for leisure purposes such as the operations of spas, Water Park and golf courses. Along with the fact that the Chinese often embark on enormous infrastructure projects, China water problem will remain unsolved.
I think it takes concerted effort on everybody’s part and a change in the mindset to curb the problem before it spirals out of control.