The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is helping the People’s Republic of China (PRC) prepare a framework for managing the allocation of water resources to meet the needs of a growing population and a rapidly expanding economy.
ADB will provide a $500,000 grant for the project from its technical assistance program. The Multi-Donor Trust Fund of the Water Financing Partnership Facility managed by ADB will extend a $250,000 grant. The fund is backed by the governments of Australia, Austria and Norway. PRC will allot $200,000 to complete the funding.
With an effective allocation system, water can be distributed equally among regions and users as well as priority areas identified during periods of scarcity. Rules will also be put in place for sharing limited water resources while preserving the environment for sustainable development.
The new framework will protect water resources from over-exploitation. It will also incorporate measures to accommodate new users while protecting existing ones.
“Water resources play a central role in maintaining human health and welfare, the safety of the environment and economic growth. The challenge is not only how to manage a declining resource but also how to respond to its scarcity and the mismatch between supply and demand,” said Yaozhou Zhou, water resources management specialist for ADB’s East Asia Department, “An effective water allocation system will promote river basin and water security, stability and prosperity at local and national levels.”
Population growth, rapid economic development and the absence of a clear framework to govern water rights and allocation have increased water use and competition among users, depleting supply and worsening water pollution. Water availability per capita fell to 2.15 billion cu m in 2006 from 2.25 billion cu m in 2000, and it is expected to fall further to 1.87 billion cu m by 2030 when the population is forecast to reach 1.52 billion.
PRC has 20 percent of the world’s population but just 7 percent of its freshwater. The northern part of the country accounts for 45 percent of the total population and 65 percent of fertile land but only 19 percent of water resources. On the other hand, the southern region comprises 55 percent of total population and 35 percent of fertile land but 81 percent of water resources.
Source: Asian Development Bank
