China began clearing reefs in the Three Gorges reservoir in
southwest China on Sunday. The eight-month-long operation is aimed
at ensuring safety of future navigation in the river course.
More than 500 tons of non-poisonous explosives will be used to
destroy hidden reefs at 14 places along the navigation channel from
Fuling to Tongluo Gorge. "The hidden reefs are a potential threat
to safe navigation when water levels rise to 156 meters by next
June," Lu Jing, deputy director of the Chongqing navigation channel
engineering bureau, said. The bureau is in charge of the blasting
operation.
"When the operation ends in June next year, the navigation
channel at the Three Gorges is expected to be used a waterborne
expressway," Lu added.
To minimize the impact on the environment, parts of the reef
where rare fish live during the winter will not be cleared, Lu
said.
The construction of the Three Gorges Project, the world's
biggest hydroelectric power project, began in 1993 and is expected
to be completed in 2009. Water was first stored in The Three Gorges
Reservoir in June 2003.
The main dam of the project is expected to be completed in June
2006, approximately the time when the water level of the Three
Gorges Reservoir should rise to 156 meters. Experts believe this
will greatly improve navigation conditions in the Yangtze
River.
(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2005)
