Hello, welcome to “News Talk”. Today’s focus: Wang Weiluo: The staggering plan of 100,000 reservoirs by the Chinese Communist Party is causing widespread flooding; severe ground subsidence due to serious drought leading to severe problems in Beijing’s subway system; Qing Shitian’s critically ill reservoir, turning Guilin’s landscape into a deadly place… China is facing both drought and flooding at the same time!
Recently, mainland China has been hit by two extreme weather conditions – heavy rain and flooding in the south forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate, with possibly over a million affected. Wherever the flood peak passes, there is widespread devastation.
At the same time, the north is experiencing continuous high temperatures, leading to concerns about drought. In recent years, droughts and floods in China have been getting more intense, with many questioning the flood control and drought resistance functions of reservoirs.
Renowned hydrology expert Wang Weiluo mentioned that China currently has nearly 100,000 reservoirs, and roughly three-quarters are considered unsafe. Due to the “reservoir chief” responsibility system implemented by the Chinese Communist Party, managers are afraid of dam quality issues and opt to release water early, putting people in a difficult situation.
Today, we invited Mr. Wang Weiluo to provide an in-depth analysis of the hidden dangers behind reservoirs and their impact on us.
As China has been experiencing extreme weather in recent years, many farmers have pointed out that they haven’t seen such heavy rain or severe drought in 50 years. Wang Weiluo mentioned historical records of rainfall amounts in Guangdong province, highlighting a significant increase in maximum rainfall within 24-hour periods.
The increased number of automatic weather stations in Guangdong province led to the observation of higher maximum rainfall, raising concerns about the changing climate patterns. Instances of heavy rain in the region have also been on the rise, affecting various provinces and causing historic levels of drought.
Wang Weiluo emphasized that the devastating floods and droughts in China are not just natural disasters but are closely tied to the propaganda of the Chinese Communist Party. He referenced past floods in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei in July and August, questioning the public’s short memory and the impact of changing weather patterns on infrastructure like the Beijing metro system.
Looking back at China’s history, the country has constructed numerous reservoirs over the years. However, with over 80% of these reservoirs exceeding their lifespan, leading to an average of 52.3 dam collapses per year, the need for reservoir maintenance and safety measures is critical. The recent initiative to reinforce the Qing Shitian reservoir is a step towards addressing this issue.
The critical situation of the Qing Shitian reservoir and the recent flooding in regions like Guilin raise alarms about the decisions made in managing reservoirs and the balance between flood control and water storage. Through historical examples like the collapse of the Banqiao and Shimantan reservoirs in 1975, the importance of reservoir safety and reinforcement is underscored.
As China grapples with a complex decision-making process regarding reservoir management and the impacts of weather patterns, the need to ensure the safety of reservoirs becomes paramount. The recent events in regions like Guizhou highlight the challenges of coordinating reservoir operations to mitigate flooding and safeguard communities.
As the Qing Shitian reservoir undergoes reinforcement work starting May 9th, situations like the super floods in the Guangxi region and the decision-making dilemmas faced by reservoir managers during extreme weather events underscore the importance of proactive measures and accurate forecasting for disaster prevention.
Wang Weiluo’s detailed analysis sheds light on the complexities of managing reservoirs in the face of changing climate patterns and emphasizes the need for strategic planning and coordinated efforts to safeguard communities from the impacts of natural disasters and inadequate reservoir management.
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