Cost, Time of Three Gorges Project Tightly Limited 

People's Daily (China) 6nov02 

The photo taken on Nov. 4, 2002 shows the downstream cofferdam of the diversion canal of the Three  Gorges project. The damming of  the diversion canal will be  completed by Nov. 6. (Xinhua)
China Three Gorges Fengjie Demolition A building is blown up in the  2,300-year-old town of Fengjie in  Chongqing Municipality of southwest  China Nov. 4, 2002. The last demolition  of the town in nearly 10 months is  making preparations for the water storage  of the future Three Gorges reservoir. (Xinhua)

The giant Three Gorges Project has succeeded in staying within budget and time limit, said a senior manager with the China Yangtze River Three Gorges Project Development Corporation on Tuesday.

The giant Three Gorges Project has succeeded in staying within budget and time limit, said a senior manager with the China Yangtze River Three Gorges Project Development Corporation on Tuesday.

Li Yong'an said many massive infrastructure projects in China in the 1970s had suffered from overspending and time overruns due to the weak economy and poor management.

The Three Gorges Project has been carrying out in a more market-oriented manner and has the advantage of enough funding from the government, he said.

Li also attributed the effective control to scientific management and profit orientation.

He said, "The total investment will probably cut 20 billion yuan (2.4 billion US dollars) from the budget."

The project on the world's third largest waterway, the Yangtze River, has so far received an investment of more than 40 billion yuan (4.8 billion US dollars).

source: http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200211/06/eng20021106_106342.shtml 22nov02
more at : http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/zhuanti/Zhuanti_223.html

Why Fengjie Was Chosen as First Site for Demolition

CERNET* (China) 22jan02

China blasted the first group of buildings in Fengjie County Sunday to prepare for water storage in the Three Gorges reservoir.

Explaining why Fengjie County was chosen as the first site for demolition, a local government official said Fengjie is the only ancient town of historical importance to be totally submerged in water in the Three Gorges reservoir area.

Fengjie's Places of historical interest include Baidicheng a town of red-walled, green-tiled ancient buildings built on a limestone rock hill 160 meters above the river water level, and the tomb of Liu Bei, the king of Shu who retreated to Baidicheng and subsequently died of depression and sorrow during the Three Kingdoms period (220-280).

In addition, the Fengjie Thermal Power Plant, the office building of Yong'an Township were among the highest buildings in the county, and they had immediate and vital influence on the life of local residents. Their demolition means the start of large-scale relocation of the county, with the government taking the lead.

The Three Gorges project is scheduled to begin water storage and power generation in June 2003.

* China Education and Research Network