THE Ministry of Water Resources on Tuesday called for all-out efforts to combat drought and ensure water supply in four drought-stricken regions in the northern and northwestern parts of the country. Since June this year, the accumulated precipitation of parts of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in North China, as well as Gansu Province, Qinghai Province, and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in the country’s northwest is 30% to 70% less than usual, according to the ministry. Weather forecasts show that the drought will persist in the mentioned areas until the end of August due to a lack of rain and declining river water levels, the ministry warned. The ministry stressed efforts to use water resources and ensure safe drinking water for urban and rural residents, safeguard the water security for large-scale breeding, and guarantee water usage for large livestock and crop irrigation. The ministry has dispatched working teams and expert groups to the four regions to provide on-site support in drought relief work. Meanwhile, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country’s economic planner, announced Tuesday that it has allocated another 500 million yuan (US$69.7 million) to support the reconstruction of infrastructure and the resumption of basic public services in areas hit hard by floods and other rain-triggered disasters. The funding will be allocated to the Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Fujian provinces, as well as the Beijing and Chongqing municipalities, according to the NDRC. Since the flood season this year, continuous heavy rainfall has triggered floods and secondary geological disasters, leading to casualties and property losses in many parts of the country. In another development, the death toll in a rain-triggered rock and mudslide Friday evening in the suburbs of Xi’an, capital of Northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, has risen to 24, with three others still missing. According to the Xi’an municipal emergency management department, the torrential rainfall caused the mudslide in a village on the outskirts of Chang’an District. Search and rescue efforts were under way following several rounds of massive searches spanning over 300 kilometers of watercourse. Shaanxi Province is conducting a campaign to screen and prevent risks of geological disasters in the countryside, as well as flooding risks in places such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs, low-lying areas and scenic spots. (Xinhua) | 