DisputesonTheConstructionofWaterPowerStationonNujiang.doc

此文档收集于网络，如有侵权，请联系网站删除Disputes on The Construction of Water Power Station on NujiangAs is known to all, nowadays China is facing a severe problem-lack of electricity. Besides the deficiency of electricity in the summer of 2003, several province governments successively switched off to limit the electricity consumption during the summer. This situation has caused an enormous adverse impact on the production of some enterprises and an exponential leap in the price of some products. Current electric power resource in China is mainly made up of coal and oil. However, coal mines are facing the fact of excess exploitation, meanwhile, the final period of production of Daqing oil field is now gradually drawing near. In this way, water power surely has become a new ideal resource for most people. Recently our whole nation is flooded with west exploitation. According to correlative statistic data, China has the largest number of dams, which comprises half of the total number in the world. Under recent trend of transporting western electricity to the east, some local governments and enterprises have decided to build thirteen power stations on Nujiang. Nevertheless, thinking of the flood in Wei He last August, even the designer of Sanmen Gorge dam himself admitted that it was not caused by that rain but by the construction of that dam. Because of that flood, more than ten people died and 200,000 people had to leave their home and a large amount of fields were submerged, causing a direct financial loss up to 1,000,000,000 RMB. Comparing the disaster brought by old dam and the construction of new dam on Nujiang, where exists more than 7,000 species of plants and 80 species of endangered animals, even someone who is not an environmentalist could easily come to his own conclusion. So, as I see it, I definitely disapprove of the construction of water power station on Nujiang. There are several conspicuous reasons as follows:First, Nujiang and Yaluzangbujiang are the only two rivers in China which remains original natural status. The meaning that an ecological river exists is not only the flush of water but also the nourishing for the whole area, including different creatures in mountains, valleys, swamps, meadows, forests and lakes. River is the biggest water resource for the existence and development of human beings to rely on. To ensure the continuance of these functions of river is the most important challenge to human beings. It is really a huge waste to sacrifice other functions of Nujiang but only to generate electricity. The construction of power stations will cause a colossal change in the surroundings, changing the torrential water to calm reservoir. After the completion of the dam, many precious species of animals will face the danger of extinction due to the change of the environment. But in such a district which has changeable topography and weather, every species is very sensitive to the change of environment. The change of any species will directly influence the existence of many other species. We have already had such unfortunate previous examples. The dam in Columbia basin caused a great financial loss of salmon fishery about 6,500,000,000 dollars from 1960 to 1980 and the extinction of salmon in Seine and other four rivers of France as well. There are also a lot of endangered species in our area, which is a big fortune for our country as well as the whole world. If those species disappear because of the construction of the 13 dams, it will be a big loss for the whole human beings. Pursuant to P.R.C. environment influence law , adequate research of the ecological system of the whole drainage area is indispensable to the water power exploitation. But till now, no systemic research has been done towards Nujiang project.Furthermore, besides the harm towards ecological and geographic surroundings as is known to all, the reservoir will also bring some other bad effects. It has proved that the extent to which water quality degrades corresponds to how long time that reservoir is maintained. The water which has been stocked in the reservoir for several months or more is deadly to the creatures living in the lower reaches of that river which is probably many miles away. Besides, after the reservoir stocks up water, the decomposition of the earth and the plants which are submerged will consume the oxygen in the water and give off a great deal of marsh gas and carbon dioxide at the same time. In some reservoirs in certain districts enduring higher temperature, the amount of these gas is far more than that in firepower electricity generation factories. The hazard gas given off by the latter factories has already been reduced by some technique measures. However, even today the production of water power station still doesnt have such kind of measures.Second, for the sake of local government and enterprises, the project could bring many beneficial factors. The most direct benefit is that if Nujiang project commences, the government will obtain a large amount of investments from the country. After the completion, government will gain lots of taxes because of the electricity generation. The investments and taxes have direct effects towards the increase of local GDP. As far as the enterprises are concerned, taking down such a large project could surely solve their existence problem. In this way, they impel this project positively. Nevertheless, as for the economic aspect of the construction, a vital reason is to help local residents to be richer. We should see to it who on earth obtain the ultimate benefits, the minority of government and enterprises or the majority of local residents. Some experts have pointed out that the construction of dams isnt an ideal way to break away poverty. The district which is submerged because of the construction is usually the most fertile area. The residents have to immigrate to the higher area on the hillside where the earth is much more sterile. For example, after the completion of Manwan power station on Lancangjiang in 1996, many peasants lost their fertile fields. The profits of seven or eight acres of newly-exploited fields are less than that of one acre of original field. Although the power station gain a profit of 120,000,000 RMB, the living quality of local residents is decreasing prevalently.In the meantime, if the project is completed, is it really a definite method to gain financial benefits? No one could ensure that result. The proponents claimed to transport electricity to the eastern area and foreign countries such as Nepal after completion. But in fact, according to the feasibility report they provide, there isnt enough credible and scientific evaluation about the situation of power markets. There exists a great many market ventures in this field. Whether the power station could make profits is still an unknown thing.Besides, considering the aging and retirement of reservoirs, it is worthless to construct dams on such a torrential river like Nujiang. The reservoir will be quickly filled up by earth because of the flush water. The life-span of Nujiang dams will be much shorter than people have expected. We have already had similar examples. More than 40% of the capability of the Gongzui reservior on Daduhe was filled up by earth only in ten years after its completion. Just in twenty years, the 50-meter-deep reservoir was filled up to only 20 meters deep. Gongzui reservoir has lost the ability of adjustment ten years before and could only generate electricity roughly now.Third, the construction of power station on Nujiang will cause a damage to the local culture. There are up to 16 minorities living in the Nujiang drainage area, where centralizes a diversity of cultures, languages and customs. It is very rare in the world. Most of the minorities live in the area of river village, which may be submerged for the construction of dams. The immigration will cause a demolishment to local civilization environment.We couldnt deny the fact of deficiency of electricity in current China. However, we could try to find other ways to solve the problem. The resource consumption rate of eight highly-consuming industries is higher than that of those industries in developed countries by 47%. Only by changing the production way of highly-consuming and low gaining, the contradiction of the meets between economy and resource will be solved. Meanwhile, the thrifty of residents in cities and towns will also be helpful to undergo this deficient electricity crisis. The current mania of water power construction will not only cause the damage of ecology and resource but also a new waste of excess electricity. Sunshine energy, wind energy, tide energy and the like are the real clean and recycled resources. In the resource development strategy in our country, we should reinforce the research and exploitation of these new resources to gradually reduce the reliance on tr