Beijing taps emergency water from neighbours

The Chinese capital has begun to pump "emergency water" from the neighbouring province of Hebei, despite officials' insistence during the Olympics that the city had enough water, Reuters reports.
English

Hebei, one of China’s most water-poor provinces, will pump 300 million cubic metres of water to the capital through a 309-kilometre canal built specially for the Olympics.

"Owing to continuous drought in recent years, the water situation in the capital Beijing is grim and water sources are quite strained," the
Hebei province water office said on its website, adding that the two governments had come to an agreement regarding the water transfer.

The plan has been opposed by some provincial officials, farmers in Hebei and environmental advocates.

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