Three Gorges Dam suffers from water shortage

A drought in central China makes it unlikely the Three Gorges Dam will be filled to capacity on schedule this year, The Wall Street Journal reported. Chengdu-based geologist Fan Xiao said drought is the likeliest reason for the postponement in filling the dam, but said authorities may delay it indefinitely if they conclude filling it would have environmental consequences. Lower-than-normal Yangtze River flows have adversely affected the government’s target to reach the maximum level of about 175 meters this month, said Li Feng, spokesman for the State Council’s Three Gorges project. In addition to rainfalls that are half of normal levels, a growing population, industrialization, pollution and food production have compounded the shortage of water resources.