The Three Gorges Dam built on the river Yangtze River has been deemed a a environmentally hazardous project right from its beginning given its geographical position and its effect on earth plates. Now, China's own renowned hydrologist Wang Weiluo has questioned the safety of the massive Dam and has warned that it could collapse at any moment.
Regional rainstorms and mudslides that began in early June have uprooted more than 7,300 houses and affected nearly eight million people by the end of the month. The nonstop heavy rains had raised the Chinese public's concerns over the potential damage caused to the world's biggest hydro-power project. But Chinese authorities and government have been tight lipped over these concerns and have not revealed their plan of action in case of any damage. They have maintained that the dam is structurally safe.
Hydrologist Wang Weiluo is not convinced of the government assurances and has claimed that the facility is not as stable as many have been led to believe. Wangs concerns over the condition of the dam was reported by a Chinese online portal New Talk.
Wang pointed out that the dam's design, construction, and quality inspection were all carried out by the same group of people and that the project was finished too quickly. He said that the Three Gorges Dam is not equipped to handle the rise in the river water levels and will have a limited effect on flood control. This was confessed by Chinese Vice Minister of Water Resources Ye Jianchun at a June 10 press conference where he said that water levels of at least 148 rivers in the country have risen above warning thresholds. Wang warned that if the dam is forced to control flood due to rising water levels, it could give way leading to a catastrophe.
Wang also said that the cracks and substandard concrete discovered during its construction is a serious concern. He said a failure of the dam would have catastrophic consequences for individuals residing in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and that they should prepare for evacuation as soon as possible.
Chinese stated-owned CNTV, itself had reported that water inside the Three Gorges Dam continues to accumulate and has risen two meters above its flood-prevention level. China's propaganda machinery hails the dam as one of the greatest engineering achievements in human history, but experts have always questioned its structural integrity.
Kerry Lutz
Massive flooding is currently taking place in China. The once vaunted Three Gorges Dam may not survive the rainy season, at least according to an increasing number of Chinese experts. And yet, you have seen nothing about it on the mainstream media. Why? Should it happen, this will be the greatest disaster in recorded history. The Yangtze River runs through cities in which 400-600 million people live. 66 nuclear power plants are in the path of massive floods that will only increase and could turn into giant tidal waves should the dam collapses.
Three Gorges was built by Li Peng, the so-called butcher of Tiananmen Square. It used substandard steel and concrete, improper welding and poor design. In 1992 when construction started, Chinese technical and engineering prowess were in their beginning stages. Now they know better, but it’s too late. The dam’s workers have been described as frightened to death every day they work there. Why haven’t you been told? Why are they hiding this?
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