"We, in cooperation with the project designers, have worked out detailed solutions for the huge dam to survive through this year's flooding," said Zhang.

The surging Yangtze River water now flows directly onto the Three Gorges Dam after all the sluice gates in the dam were closed for water filling in reservoir on June 1. The water in the reservoir has risen to over 135 meters above sea level.

"The Three Gorges Project will be put to the test by the Yangtze River flooding this year," said Pan Jiazheng, a noted water control specialist and also member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

"But the flooded waters will be discharged downstream by the big dam at the will of humankind for the first time."

Launched in 1993, the massive project is to be constructed in three stages. Preparations and actual construction in the first phase were carried out between 1993 and 1997. The Yangtze, China's longest river, was dammed at the Three Gorges area for the first time on Nov. 8, 1997.

The second phase started in 1998 and continues today. This phase features the reservoir's water storing, the operation of the first group of generating units, and the passage of ships through the permanent ship lock.

And the third phase of construction will range between 2004 and 2009, when the water level is expected to reach a height of 175 meters.

The main river course of the Yangtze ran eastward uninterrupted in the first-phase construction and, during the second stage of construction, the main river course was halted and the river water was diverted to flow eastward via a man-made canal.

"In the third stage of construction, the big dam will have a real challenge from the Yangtze river flooding which occurs in summer time and is considered the most devastating," Pan said.

Pan urged meticulous efforts be made to prepare for possible flooding before the third stage of construction begins next year.

The Three Gorges Project, which is estimated to cost 180 billion yuan (approximately US$21. billion), will be installed with 26 generators with the combined generating capacity amounting to 18.2 million kw and be able to generate 84.7 billion kw/hours of hydro-electric power annually when it is fully finished in the year 2009.

By then, the project will be able to discharge 120,000 cu m of flooded water per second.

At present, it is capable of discharging 80,000 cu m of flood water per second.

Wang Shucheng, Chinese minister of water resources, urged no drop in standards in hydrological forecasts, preparation for possible major flooding, monitoring and investigations, so that the gigantic project survives flooding this year.

(Xinhua News Agency June 17, 2003)