What are the main reasons for the South-to-North Water Transfer Project in China?

The main reason is the shortage of water resources in North China, Huaihai Plain and Northwest China.

The South-to-North Water Diversion Project is a strategic project of China people. It means that the water resources in the Yangtze River basin are divided into east, middle and west lines from its upper, middle and lower reaches, combined with the regional characteristics in China, and transported to the water-deficient areas in North China, Huaihai Plain and Northwest China. The starting point of the East Line Project is Jiangdu Water Control Project in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province; The starting point of the mid-line project is Danjiangkou Reservoir in the middle and upper reaches of the Han River, and the water supply areas are Henan, Hebei, Beijing and Tianjin.

The idea of the engineering scheme was put forward in 1954 when President Mao Zedong visited the Yellow River. Since then, through the analysis and comparison of more than 50 schemes, the water transfer scheme has achieved many valuable results. The project planning area involves a population of 438 million people and the water transfer scale is 44.8 billion cubic meters. The total length of the east, middle and west trunk lines planned by the project is 4350 kilometers. The first phase of the East and Middle Lines is 2,899 kilometers long, and the first-class supporting branch canals in six provinces and cities along the line are about 2,700 kilometers.

From 2065438 to September 2002, the relocation of migrants in Danjiangkou reservoir area of Henan Province, the Middle Route of South-to-North Water Transfer Project, was completely completed. The South-to-North Water Transfer Project mainly solves the problem of water shortage in northern China, especially in the Huang-Huai-Hai River Basin, with a population of 438 million. Three water transfer routes are recommended: East, Middle and West. Through the connection of three water transfer lines with the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, the Huaihe River and the Haihe River, the overall layout with "four horizontals and three verticals" as the main body is formed, which is conducive to realizing the rational allocation pattern of water resources in China.

At present, the Middle Route of South-to-North Water Transfer Project and the East Route of South-to-North Water Transfer Project (Phase I) have been completed, and water has been transferred to the northern region. Up to now, the west line project is still in the planning stage and has not started construction.