Worst drought in six decades plagues Henan province
About 740,00O people affected as multiple efforts launched to combat damaging effects
The worst drought in six decades in central China’s Henan province has affected almost 30 million hectares of farmland, caused water shortages for about 740,000 people and cost the province almost 1.3 billion yuan (HK$1.6 billion), the People’s Daily reported.
Pingdingshan city, which has a population of more than five million, has seen its water usage reduced by 100,000 tons per day from the usual 400,000 tons, officials said.
During peak times, 869 pumps and 450,000 electrical wells are being used to combat the effects of the drought in the province, they said, and a stored water supply in the Baigui Mountain has been tapped to aid the city through mid-August.
Henan Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said it was prepared to do more to fight against the drought on both large and small scales. Several construction projects have been started to increase the water supply. And last week, water was delivered to at least 900 villagers in Sancha village in Xia county.
Henan province is one of the largest grain production areas in China, and, in a good year, it provides about a half billion tons, about 10 per cent of annual production for the whole country.
