According to a report on China's underground water resources and environment released by China Geological Survey, rocky desertification area has increased by 1,650 square kilometers annually in Karst areas in southwest China since the end of last century. The rocky desertification area now accounts for 14.2 percent of Karst areas surveyed. There are a total of 3, 066 underground rivers in the Karst region of southwest China. The exploitable underground water is 62 bln cubic meters. Only 15 percent of them, i.e. 9.2 bln cubic meters have been exploited annually.

Of 253 major sections where underground water is exploited in 185 cities across China, 25 percent sees worsening pollution; 18 percent sees pollution alleviated and 57 percent remain stable. The subsiding areas in 50 cities have expanded to 940,000 square kilometers. The fall of underground water has brought about 180 funnels across China, covering a total area of 190,000 square kilometers.

The survey shows the fresh water resources in China are distributed in an area of 8.1 mln square kilometers. The exploitable underground fresh water is 353 bln cubic meters per year. At present China exploits more than 100 bln cubic meters every year.

By People's Daily Online