China is to begin Tuesday raising water levels at the Three Gorges project to 175 meters, the colossal construction's designed level.

China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and Yangtse River Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters issued a written statement on the matter Monday with the approval of the State Council, the Cabinet.

According to planning, water behind the dam should be raised to175 meters by the end of October. But if the water is below that level at that time, the raising of the water will be continued in November.

Up until now, the water level of the project has been 145 meters.

The Three Gorges Project, initiated in 1993, is a multi-functional water control system built in the upper and middle reaches of the country's longest river, the Yangtze River.

Its main components are the dam, a five-tier ship lock, and 26 hydropower turbo-generators. Its key functions include flood control and power generation.

The project is being built in three phases. Storing water at the 175 meter level is a requirement for the last phase of construction.

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2009)