China News Agency, Beijing, August 17 (Reporter Chen Su) The Ministry of Water Resources of China stated on the 17th that at present, the drought situation in the Yangtze River Basin is developing rapidly, and 830,000 people have been affected by the drought. Water Supply Joint Dispatching Special Action".

On August 17, in Chongqing Jiangbeizui River Beach Park, the water level of the Jialing River dropped, and some of the beaches were exposed.

Photo by He Penglei

　　On the same day, the Ministry of Water Resources of China held a press conference to introduce the recent situation of drought resistance and water supply in the Yangtze River Basin.

　　Liu Weiping, vice minister of China's Ministry of Water Resources, said that since July, most of the Yangtze River Basin has continued to have high temperatures and little rainfall, and the rainfall is 45% lower than the same period of the previous year.

At present, the water levels of the main stream of the Yangtze River and Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake are 4.85-6.13 meters lower than the same period of the previous year, which is the lowest in the same period since the actual measurement record.

The drought situation in the Yangtze River Basin is developing rapidly. The 6 provinces (cities) of Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi and Anhui are affected by the drought with an area of ​​12.32 million mu, and 830,000 people and 160,000 large livestock have been affected by the drought.

　　Liu Weiping said that at present, the irrigation water sources and urban and rural water supply in large and medium-sized irrigation areas are guaranteed. The drought-affected farmland is mainly distributed at the end of the irrigation area and the "Wangtiantian" without irrigation facilities. The water supply is mainly affected by small reservoirs or mountain springs, A decentralized water supply project where streams are used as water sources.

The picture shows the cracks in the crops caused by high temperature and drought in Banan, Chongqing.

Photo by Zhou Yi

　　"At present, the water storage situation of large and medium-sized reservoirs in the Yangtze River Basin is generally good, and the water storage capacity is only 10% less than the same period last year. The water storage capacity of the drought-affected provinces (cities) is generally flat compared with the same period of the previous year." Liu Weiping said that the Ministry of Water Resources pays close attention to the Yangtze River In the event of drought in the basin, the emergency response to drought defense was launched in a timely manner, and a working group was dispatched to the front line in the dry area to formulate emergency plans and implement measures to combat drought and ensure water supply.

Since August, the water conservancy department has dispatched controlled reservoirs in the Yangtze River Basin to supply 5.3 billion cubic meters of water to the middle and lower reaches.

　　At present, rice and other autumn crops in the Yangtze River Basin are in a critical period of irrigation water demand. In order to curb the rapid decline of the water level in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and ensure water intake from irrigation areas and cities along the line, the Ministry of Water Resources has decided to implement the "Special Action for Joint Operation of Reservoirs in the Yangtze River Basin to Fight Drought and Ensure Water Supply". From 12:00 on August 16, the cascade reservoir group in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River with the Three Gorges Reservoir as the core, the "Four Rivers" reservoir group in Xiangziyuan in Dongting Lake, and the "Five Rivers" reservoir group in Poyang Lake, Jiangxi, Fuxin and Raoxiu will be added. The large outflow flow is used to replenish water downstream. It is planned to replenish 1.48 billion cubic meters of water. It will accurately connect with irrigation areas, urban and rural water supply intakes, and divert, lift, and adjust to ensure the safety of drinking water for people in dry areas and the irrigation water for autumn crops.

On August 15, in Wuhan, Hubei, a large area of ​​tidal flats on the Hankou River Beach emerged from the water.

Affected by the significantly less rainfall in the Yangtze River Basin, the reduction of upstream water, and the increase in evaporation caused by continuous high temperature, the water level in the Wuhan section of the Yangtze River continued to decline after entering the main flood season, and the phenomenon of "reverse dryness during the flood season" occurred.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhang Chang

　　The meteorological department predicts that the Yangtze River Basin will maintain high temperature and little rainfall in the next week, and the rainfall and inflow of water in August will generally be low, and the drought may continue to develop.

Liu Weiping said that the Ministry of Water Resources will continue to pay close attention to the development of drought in the Yangtze River Basin, and organize and guide relevant regions to do their best to combat drought and ensure water supply.

(Finish)