Leading Chinese hydrologist Lu Qinkan has written a third petition to top authorities in Beijing, raising the alarm about three potentially disastrous problems related to the Three Gorges dam.
SARS and falun gong provide pretexts for Three Gorges arrests
China has used both the SARS health crisis and the crackdown on the falun gong spiritual movement as reasons to detain migrants who dare to complain about the Three Gorges resettlement operation.
The slippery slope: Confusion surrounds shape of the reservoir
A lively discussion on an official Chinese Web site has highlighted an issue with potentially huge implications for Three Gorges resettlement and public safety that appears to have confused even the experts.
Hidden problems with China’s dams
(August 1, 2003) A respected Chinese publication investigates why more than one-third of the country’s dams and reservoirs are considered dangerous, and quotes a top hydropower engineer as saying, "There is something wrong with the whole management system."
Minor tremors rattle Three Gorges during reservoir filling
(June 26, 2003) ‘The real danger comes from active faults in the vicinity of the dam site,’ which is located near six fault lines, a senior engineer warns in a recent Chinese newspaper report.
Families made homeless as reservoir rises higher than planned
Two houses collapsed and dozens of others were flooded in a village near the Three Gorges dam when the reservoir water level rose higher than expected.
Families made homeless as reservoir rises higher than planned
Two houses collapsed and dozens of others were flooded in the village of Wuxiangmiao, about 25 kilometres upstream of the Three Gorges dam, when the reservoir water level rose higher than planned, China News Service (Zhongguo xinwen she) reported.
Geological threats loom over new towns
(June 12, 2003) Residents of Badong, Wushan and Fengjie are working around the clock to strengthen the foundations of their new towns, which are being built in a geologically fragile region prone to landslides and riverbank collapses.
Witnesses to history: Migrants gather to watch the reservoir rise
Many people who were resettled to make way for the Three Gorges project gathered at Maoping near the dam site on June 1 to watch the reservoir begin to fill and submerge their old homes.
News flash: Cracks in the dam have reopened, senior inspector says
(May 30, 2003) As China prepares to begin filling the Three Gorges reservoir on June 1, a senior member of the project inspection team has acknowledged that some of the cracks that were repaired at great expense on the upstream face of the dam have reopened.
Hidden danger behind Three Gorges dam
(May 30, 2003) As the huge reservoir behind China’s controversial Three Gorges dam begins to fill up this weekend, an urgent rescue operation is being launched further upstream to save the dam from being choked by silt.
Severe floods expected to put new dam to the test
(May 27, 2003) Abnormally heavy flooding on the Yangtze River this summer is expected to put the newly built Three Gorges dam to its first major test.
Severe floods expected to put new dam to the test
Abnormally heavy flooding on the Yangtze River this summer is expected to put the newly built Three Gorges dam to its first major test.
More turbine trouble as foreign experts cancel trip: report
As Three Gorges project officials scramble to keep the SARS virus away from the dam site, a Chinese newspaper reports that foreign experts who were to have helped install the first of the scheme’s giant turbines have cancelled their trip to China.
Dam inspectors from Beijing given a wide berth
Experts from Beijing taking part in a final inspection before the Three Gorges reservoir is filled next month are being handled with special care by project officials desperate to prevent a local outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
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Lawrence Solomon
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