China to Impose 'Strictest Control' over Water Resources
Xinhua News Agency, March 5, 2012 Adjust font size:
China will impose the strictest control over water resources, according to a government work report released to the media ahead of the parliament's annual session.
The government will rationally set and adjust water resource fees in different localities, and carry out integrated price reform of water used for agricultural purposes, says the report to be delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao at the opening meeting of the Fifth Session of the National People's Congress (NPC).
The report came after the Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) said earlier last month it would invest more than 140 billion yuan (US$22.2 billion) in water conservation projects this year, higher than 114.1 billion yuan last year.
The report also vows to improve pricing mechanisms for nuclear power, hydropower, and power generated from other renewable energy sources.
A draft plan for water conservation covering 2011-2015 targets involves a total investment of 1.8 trillion yuan (US$285.7 billion), according to the MWR.
The country will start trials of trading carbon emissions and the cap-and-trade scheme for pollution rights, and move faster to establish a compensation mechanism for ecological damage, according to the report.
