BEIJING, July 15 (UPI) -- Recent severe flooding in China's southern provinces have increased concerns about the safety of 30,000 dams in the country.
China's Daijiyuan news agency reported that the 30,000 dams threaten over 400 cities and 146 million people. Water Resource Department statistics note that in 1954-2003 that 3,484 dams collapsed, an average of 71 dam collapses annually.
The Water Resource Department data indicates that budget shortages inhibit proper maintenance and repairs of some Chinese dams. In Jiangxi province the Water Resource Department estimated there are a total of 9,268 dams, 3,488 of which are in "critical" condition. That's 37.6 percent of the province's total.
In a specific example, the department noted that repairs to the LiLing Dam in Poyang county in Shangrao City are long overdue -- the dam's flood release gates are rusting and ceasing to function efficiently. A hydrological expert who inspected the LiLing dam is concerned that the dam could collapse the next time the region has a severe storm.
This expert said, "At that time, it will claim all the lives of 3,000 or so people in the nearby two villages."
The Water Resource Department study also reported that according to Shangrao City Water Resource Department Section Chief Gong JianXin, "The fundamental maintenance of the dams has been paralyzed." The Water Resource Department report notes that of China's 84,000 dams in China, 30,000 are in "critical" condition, requiring a potential investment of billions of dollars to avert further problems.
