China's craziest south-north water transfer project has failed
The South-North Water Transfer Project, known as the largest inter-basin water transfer project in human history, has once again sparked public concern and debate. Many people question that this 77 Billion US Dollar mega-project has failed.
The success or failure of a project needs to be analyzed from several aspects; such as whether the project has achieved the designed function, its impacts on the environment, operating economics, etc, these are all important factors that need to be analyzed.
The South-North Water Transfer Project is a large-scale water conservancy project in operation in China, transporting water resources from Yangtze and Huai River Basins to the North and Northwest of China. The project crosses four major river basins —— the Yangtze River, the Huai River, the Yellow River, and the Hai River —— and consists of three water transfer routes: the East Route, the Central Route, and the West Route. This project is classified as one of the world's largest megaprojects.
According to the “General Layout of the South-North Water Transfer Project” published on the Chinese Central Government’s website, by 2050, the total water transfer volume of the three routes will be 44.8 billion cubic meters per year——— 14.8 billion by the East Route, 13 billion by the Central Route, and 17 billion by the West Route.
State media in Mainland China reported that by the end of November 2014, the State Council's South-North Water Transfer Office had issued a total investment of 38.1billion USD for the first phase of the East and Central Routes.
According to data reported by Chinese official media, the water transfer volume of the first phase of East Route and Central Route can only reach one-third of the designed capacity.
Wang Weiluo wrote in an article that both the east route and the central route will cause severe environmental problems.
Economist Cheng Xiaonong published an article arguing that the disaster in Zhengzhou was related to the South-North Water Transfer Project.

Liu Sumei, Xu Lihua, and many other Chinese seismologists believe that the raising of the Danjiangkou Dam will induce magnitude 4 or higher earthquakes, which will seriously endanger the lives of the surrounding people.
Engineer Fan Xiao said: "The main problem of the South-North Water Transfer Project is water pollution. It passes through the Huaihe River basin, which is one of the most polluted areas of China's water. It’s difficult to put the polluted water to use after it is transmitted."
There is also the issue of immigration and resettlement. The construction of the Danjiangkou Reservoir alone has forced more than 400,000 people to move away.
In terms of economic efficiency, the South-North Water Transfer Project is a great failure.
As for those local government officials in areas that the project is passing through, as long as the state invests in the project, the local GDP data will look good. They will also get benefits, and Job Opportunities will be created. If they support the project mandated by top officials, they may get a promotion; if not, the consequences are that they will likely lose their positions. Those who support the project will be assigned to the position. Either way, that the project must be constructed is something that cannot be changed.
For design and construction companies, a project as big as the South-North Water Transfer Project is certainly a good business opportunity.
The Project, known as the largest water transfer project ever undertaken by mankind at a cost of 77 Billion USD, was thus completed. The public commented that the project embodies the revolutionary sentiment of "Man will win against heaven".
"Let The High Mountains Bow, Order The Rivers Give Way"

#China#MegaprojectFailed#SouthNorthWaterTransfer#WaterDiversion#EnvironmentalRisk#
All rights reserved.

свернуть