The emergency water diversion project for Beijing will be finalized by the end of 2006. The project will guarantee water supply for the capital as from 2007, according to the Beijing Water Authority.

As part of the south-to-north water diversion project, the emergency water diversion project begins from Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei Province and ends in Beijing. Its general main channel is 225 kms long. The total investment in the project amounts to 12. 384 bln yuan.

The project is capable of diverting water from four large reservoirs in Hebei Province to Beijing in time of emergency.

The central route of the south-to-north water diversion project will be finalized in 2010. Upon completion 1 bln cubic meters' Yangtze River water will flow into Beijing every year.

Preliminary calculation shows the comprehensive price of the Yangtze River water will be around six yuan per cubic meter. Before 2007 Beijing's comprehensive water price will rise from 5.14 yuan per cubic meter at present to 6 yuan accordingly.

By People's Daily Online