East China's Anhui Province has diverted 710 million cubic meters of water from the Yangtze and Huaihe River to cope with prolonged net dry spells in the province, according to sources with the provincial drought and flood control and prevention headquarters. 

While some parts of China are currently going all out to fighting against floods, Anhui Province, nevertheless, has been plunged amid drought in recent months.
   
Since early June, Chaohu city of the province, where the Chaohu Lake is located, lifted all the sluice gates one after another and has so far diverted some 422 million cubic meters of water from the Yangtze River which help raise the water level in the Chaohu Lake from 7.9 meters to 8.15 meters.
   
The amount of water diverted has ensured water supply for the civilian use of local residents and helped irrigate about 333,000 ha of farmland.

Chuzhou, Anqing, Chizhou and some other cities of the province have all diverted water from the Huaihe River so as to pool enough water sources for drought relief.

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2005)