Henan to contribute US$200 million to water diversion project

Henan province will spend US$200 million in protecting the ecology in the source of the central route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, according to the provincial financial bureau.

The project will be financed by a low-interest long-term loan from the Asian Development Bank.

The project focuses on Dengzhou city, located at the source of the water diversion project. It aims to restore the waterway's ecology, protect and construct the wetland, and address nonpoint source rural pollution. The project will also cover household garbage incineration and sewage treatment, and construction of urban infrastructures such as environmentally-friendly public transportation, water supply facilities, underground pipelines, roads and bridges.

An official at the provincial financial bureau said the implementation of the project will provide funding support to the urban construction and ecological protection in Dengzhou city, and efficiently protect the headstream of the water diversion project.

The central route begins at Danjiangkou in Hubei province and runs through Henan and Hebei provinces before reaching Beijing and Tianjin.