Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday urged builders of gigantic South-to-North water diversion project to be mindful of pollution control and ecological environment protection during the project's construction.

"Water pollution prevention and control work should be the top priority so the project is built into a 'clear water corridor' and 'green corridor,'" said Wen.

Quality monitoring should be carried out during the whole construction process, he told the second meeting of the project construction committee under the State Council.

"In order to ensure the smooth construction of the project, we should also appropriately handle the relationship between water diversion and water conservation, between the main body and the accessory parts of the project, and between the construction quality and the building speed," said Wen, also director of the committee.

"Efforts should be ensured the project a first class water conservancy project," he said.

Early stage preparation should be accelerated so that the whole project could be carried out as scheduled, he said.

"The construction of such a large water diversion project is one of the key decisions made by the central government," said Wen." Both central government departments and relevant provincial governments along the diversion lines should cooperate closely, design and construct meticulously so as to advance the project smoothly."

Wen also urged to tighten the management of project investment and well handle the resettlement of migrants and compensation for land use.

(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2004)