Drought threatens 750,000 people in W China  

中国西部旱情严重 云南甘肃75万人饮水困难

国家防总副总指挥、水利部部长陈雷21日在京主持召开抗旱会商会议。会商认为，全国春旱形势总体上好于常年同期，但西南、西北部分地区旱情严重。

Beijing (CNS) – Southwest and northwest regions of China are suffering from a relentless drought, said Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei on Thursday.

The drought has left 750,000 people without adequate drinking water in Yunnan and Gansu, or 88 percent of the total affected people in China, said Chen, who is also deputy head of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

Yunnan is so far the worst-hit province. It has been affected by severe drought since 2009, resulting in 5.11 million mu of damaged cropland and 600,000 people short of adequate drinking water supplies.

About 31.67 million mu (2.11 million hectares) of arable land in China is suffering from a severe drought that has hit 13 provinces including Yunnan, Shaanxi and Gansu, accounting for 53 percent of national farmlands.

Lack of water resources, poor irrigation conditions and high costs hamper drought alleviation efforts.

The southwest region and some areas of the middle and lower Yangtze River delta hit by severe drought last year will be further tested, Chen said.

Although winter wheat regions will be less affected than in normal years, poorly irrigated areas in Shaanxi, Gansu, Henan and Shanxi will face drought again.