On July 8, 2016, Blog China posted an article analyzing the recent occurrence of massive floods in the Yangtze River basin. After having presented the damage and death toll caused by the floods, the writer of the article asked what happened to the Three Gorges Dam. Didn’t the government claim that the Three Gorges Dam would stop a flood as huge as one that happened once in 100 centuries?
The article listed three article titles on the flood regulation capability of the Three Gorges Dam that Xinhua News Agency published in 2003, 2007, and 2008 and one article title from China Central Television in 2010. According to the titles of the articles, that changed over time, the flood monitoring capability of the Dam decreased sharply from being a superman to being nobody.
As early as June 1, 2003, Xinhua News Agency published an article, entitled “Three Gorges Dam Impregnable! Can Even Prevent a Once in 100 Centuries Flood.” On May 8, 2007, Xinhua News Agency published another article titled, ” Starting This Year, Three Gorges Dam Can Prevent a Once in a Millennium Year Flood.” On October 21, 2008, Xinhua News Agency published its 3rd article titled,” Three Gorges Dam Can Prevent a Once in a Century Flood.” Then on July 20, 2010, China Central Television (CCTV) reported, “Three Gorges flood storage capacity is limited; do not put all your hope in the dam.”
The article concluded: It is not important whether the Three Gorges Dam can prevent a flood once in however many years. The ecological damage of the Three Gorges project on the climate and on the environment is irreversible. How to deal with the future of the Three Gorges Project will be a huge test and challenge for any leader of China.
Source: Blog China, July 8, 2016
http://m.blogchina.com/v1.php/blog/view/uname/caishenkun/bid/3076657