Officials from the environment and resources committee of the Tibet Autonomous Regional People's Congress on Tuesday kicked off a large-scale examination of how water from the region's five major rivers is used.

"As part of a nationwide environmental protection drive, the campaign will be the longest and most wide-ranging examination of the region's use of water resources," said Luosang Toinzhub, deputy director of the standing committee of the Tibet Autonomous Regional People's Congress.

During the period from May 8 to June 3, more than 20 members from the environment and resources committee of the regional people's congress will travel along the Yarlung Zangbo River, Nyangchu River, Lhasa River, Niyang River, and Yarlung River to collect information and statistics.

The focus will be on the protection of drinking water, construction of small hydropower plants and pollution treatment facilities, as well as the building and maintenance of water conservancy facilities, said Luosang Toinzhub, who is also deputy head of the organizing committee of the environmental protection program in Tibet.

The examination will be carried out in 16 counties in the Lhasa, Xigaze, Shannan, and Nyingchi areas.

(Xinhua News Agency May 9, 2007)