China News Service, Beijing, August 18 (Reporter Chen Su) Drought continues to develop in the Yangtze River Basin in China. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Water Resources, 12.32 million mu of arable land in Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi and Anhui provinces (cities) have been affected by drought. .

The relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Water Resources of China said that in order to cope with the impact of drought on rural water supply and farmland irrigation, the Ministry of Water Resources has urgently deployed related areas to fight drought and maintain irrigation. Currently, more than 100 million mu of farmland has been irrigated, effectively controlling the affected area of ​​crops.

  At a press conference held by the Ministry of Water Resources of China on the 17th, Chen Mingzhong, director of the Rural Water Conservancy and Hydropower Department of the Ministry of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China, said that the drought had indeed had a great impact on rural water supply and farmland irrigation. Water supply due to drought was affected, among which 309,000 people had difficulty drinking water due to temporary drought.

The drought-affected area of ​​arable land is 12.32 million mu, and the main drought-affected crops are rice and corn.

  He said that in the face of the severe drought, the Ministry of Water Resources issued an urgent notice to the relevant provinces in the Yangtze River Basin, and deployed all localities to strengthen the implementation of responsibilities, to ensure the safety of drinking water for rural people and to effectively ensure the irrigation water for crops.

  Chen Mingzhong introduced that the Ministry of Water Resources requires provinces in arid areas to find out the affected areas of rural water supply and irrigation areas due to drought, the types of rural water supply projects, the number of locations, and the number of people covered, based on hydrological and meteorological forecast information, combined with the water supply status of water source projects, rural water supply and water supply needs in irrigation areas. , as well as the area of ​​irrigated area, type of water source, type of crops, and water demand for irrigation.

Starting from the most unfavorable situation, "one village, one policy" accurately formulates emergency plans, and takes targeted measures to combat drought and ensure water supply.

Organize large and medium-sized irrigated districts in 6 provinces (cities) to formulate drought-resistance and irrigation plans one by one, take into account crop types, irrigation needs, water source allocation and expected water availability, and make plans for water use in irrigated districts.

  "By taking effective measures, the bottom line of drinking water safety in rural areas has been kept." Chen Mingzhong said that among the 309,000 people who had difficulty drinking water temporarily due to drought, the water supply needs of 47,000 people were better guaranteed by extending the pipe network and opening new water sources. Water supply provided drinking water for 199,000 people, and basically met the drinking water needs of 63,000 people through measures such as time-sharing water supply.

  In terms of agricultural irrigation, after active response, more than 2,500 large and medium-sized irrigation areas in 6 provinces (cities) have irrigated more than 100 million mu of farmland, basically ensuring the seasonal irrigation water demand of crops, effectively controlling the affected area of ​​crops, and laying a water conservancy foundation for the harvest of autumn crops.

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