Ten issues for Three Gorges propaganda

In the following piece, which appeared in the Three Gorges Project Daily (Sanxia gongcheng bao) on Jan. 29, a senior spokesman for the scheme summarizes the issues that the official Chinese media should prepare themselves to “propagandize.” Chi Wenjiang warns, for instance, that “the Three Gorges is a disaster-prone area and filling the reservoir is likely to trigger new geological disasters.” He also says that “a tougher job lies ahead” with the next phase of resettlement, and “hidden problems will gradually emerge,” including declining income for migrants and a tight squeeze on available farmland. Below, the full text of the newspaper’s report, translated by Three Gorges Probe (Chinese) editor Mu Lan.

A conference on “news presentation and propaganda campaign” for the Three Gorges dam was held in Beijing on Jan. 25. In his speech, Chi Wenjiang, spokesman for the Three Gorges Project Construction Committee, outlined 10 issues that the Three Gorges propaganda campaign should focus on in two phases, namely, before and after the filling of the reservoir.

Mr. Chi said that in the past 10 years, the propaganda department has done a good job of publicizing the achievements of the Three Gorges dam, clearing up people’s doubts about the project and creating a social environment in which the project can be carried out smoothly. Little wonder, therefore, that the Chinese people now have a better understanding of the project and that the voice of opposition has become weaker. Mr. Chi said that 2003 represents a special year in the construction of the Three Gorges dam. Construction work will be organized in two phases, before and after the filling of the reservoir. Propaganda work should focus on five issues in each of these two phases.

The five major issues before the reservoir is filled:

1) Do everything possible to make sure the floor of the reservoir is thoroughly cleaned up, as this will have tremendous implications for water quality and safety of the reservoir’s operation.

2) Speed up environmental protection and geological disaster prevention work. The Three Gorges is a disaster-prone area and filling the reservoir is likely to trigger new geological disasters. All projects aimed at preventing geological disasters below 135 metres must be completed by the end of May. A careful and thorough inspection must be undertaken of resettlement projects, especially the houses and other buildings constructed on top of old landslides, so that any hidden problems can be dealt with and the safety of people and property assured. All wastewater-treatment plants and garbage-disposal facilities along the reservoir should be completed by the end of May. No untreated wastewater or garbage must be discharged directly into the river after the reservoir has been filled.

3) Further measures must be taken to guarantee the quality of new settlements. As many as 600,000 people have been moved so far — a great achievement, but a tougher job lies ahead. In particular, hidden problems will gradually emerge as the resettlement operation progresses. First of all, the income of migrants resettled in the nearby area is going to decline because of a tight squeeze on farmland, steeper slopes and poor-quality soil, while high-quality land is destined to be flooded by the rising reservoir in June. Second, the budget earmarked for resettlement will decline dramatically after the second-phase resettlement operation [1998-2003] is completed and, as a result, the pace of economic development will slow and job opportunities will shrink in the reservoir area.

4) There is an urgent need to set up new institutions for the management and operation of the reservoir, and introduce related regulations and laws. The Three Gorges is a mega-project involving multiple functions –such as flood control, navigation, hydropower generation and fishery — that covers a huge area, affecting 21 counties and districts in both Chongqing and Hubei. A new approach to reservoir management and operation will help bring the dam project into full play.

5) Be well prepared for government inspections, including resettlement projects and dam structures, to ensure they pass inspection in the coming months.

The five major issues after the reservoir is filled:

1) Improve communication and coordination between departments, such as agriculture, transportation, tourism, and forestry, to ensure the reservoir operates safely and smoothly.

2) Make a water resource development plan, especially pertaining to the surface of the water and isolated islands that form when the reservoir is filled.

3) Speed up the construction of dam structures and power transmission systems so that the power generated by the Three Gorges project can be transmitted properly.

4) Make sure that installation of the turbines and the permanent shiplock will pass inspection by government authorities. At the same time, start to prepare for the ceremony to celebrate the first batch of turbines beginning to generate power.

5) Be well aware of the difficulties in future resettlement operations, and well prepared for launching the third phase of the resettlement, which will definitely be a tougher one: As many as 500,000 people must be moved in the next seven years — at least 70,000 people a year — compared to only 60,000 people a year in the past 10 years.