China 'to divert water supplies from the Yangtze River'

Chinese authorities have revealed that they will tackle severe droughts in Jiangsu province by channeling water supplies from the Yangtze River.

Zhang Zitong, a senior from the country's ministry of water resources, announced the measures this week and added that water from the Yellow River will also be utilised.

Both Henan and Shandong provinces will benefit from the Yellow River supplied, Mr Zitong informed.

He added that as temperatures rise, farmers and residents of mountainous areas may be faced with more water shortage problems in the future should the current drought continue.

Since November, over five million cubic metres of water has been diverted from the Yellow River and distributed among north Chinese communities, including those in the Henan, Shanxi and Shandong provinces, reported Xinhua News.

Last month, a report commissioned by the ministry of water resources and the Chinese academy of sciences concluded that all 646 counties of China are suffering from soil and water loss.