(September 20, 2000) Central China Television, China’s official state television network, reports that the Ministry of Water Resources has spent up to US$50-million (400 million RMB) of government money earmarked for water conservancy construction programs on luxury cars, stock investments, and commercial office towers (which the Ministry intended to collect rent on).
China Tops World in Number of Large Dams
China has topped the world in the number of large dams, a senior government official announced Tuesday.
Three Gorges dam environmentally friendly, officials say
(September 19, 2000) China Daily reported that Chinese officials have promised the Three Gorges dam project will be environmentally friendly and will not destroy ecological systems in the Yangtze river area.
Temporary cofferdam at Three Gorges Project to be demolished
The temporary cofferdam at the Three Gorges project site, no longer needed as work on the dam structure wraps up, is to be demolished with explosives on June 6, Xinhua reports.
Three Gorges officials arrested for smuggling construction equipment
(September 15, 2000) Guangzhou Daily reports that two officials working for China’s Gezhouba Corporation, the largest contractor for the Three Gorges dam, have been arrested for smuggling imported construction equipment worth more than US$3-million.
Dissident at large
(September 15, 2000) Excerpt from a profile of Dai Qing: … Having been through so much already, where does Dai Qing find the strength to carry on? Dai credits her family and friends at home and abroad, especially her supporters at Toronto-based Probe International, who have had a profound influence on her life, she says.
Reckless development blamed for fouling of China’s waters
(September 6, 2000) The stench from Dian Lake smothers the tiny farming hamlets that dot its shores. Until 2002, the lake supplied drinking water to Kunming, the scenic capital of southern Yunnan Province, and provided a rich bounty for fishermen and a playground for tourists.
Irregularities in the Three Gorges bidding procedures
(August 17, 2000) Guangzhou-based Southern Weekend reports that there are irregularities in the bidding procedures for Three Gorges dam.
China ponders price of progress at spectacular gorge
Tiger Leaping Gorge, China: Legend has it that a tiger vaulted the mighty Yangtze here at its narrowest point. Before long, anybody or beast might be able to saunter across the river atop a towering dam wall.
Greed for energy threatens to dam legendary gorge
Within days China will pour the final concrete of the massive Three Gorges Dam across the Yangtze River. But completion of one of the great engineering feats of our time will not satisfy the country’s energy-hungry developers.
Flood of angry opposition to dam gets China’s attention
(July 20, 2000) Barely a month after the picturesque Nujiang river was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2003, the Chinese government predictably revealed a plan to do what it has done at more than 20,000 locations across the country: Build a massive dam.
Respect initial Three Gorges dam plan or risk disaster, Chinese experts warn
(July 17, 2000) Senior engineers and academics submitted this second protest letter, with an attached petition to China’s leaders in June, 2000. They point out the technical problems of siltation and population movements.
Ship lift problems at Yangtze tributary dam threaten Three Gorges project
Navigational difficulties on the Yangtze River heighten concerns over dam building projects.
More dams planned for Yangtze despite problems
(June 19, 2000) Official zeal for more hydro development on Yangtze tributaries remains undampened by the financial and technical problems plaguing China’s massive Three Gorges dam. According to Chinese news sources, the State Planning Commission has approved plans for a third hydro dam on Qingjiang River, a major Yangtze tributary that joins the mainstream 100 kilometres downstream of Three Gorges.
China’s Three Gorges raises questions for future dams
‘There are better methods of electricity production being locked out in order to protect a bigger project like the Three Gorges,’ says Probe International’s Patricia Adams.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Patricia Adams and Lawrence Solomon
Other News Sources
