Chapter 85 Water Transfer
The Jingtaichuan Electric Pumping and Irrigation Project is a large (2) type electric pumping and irrigation water conservancy project spanning two provinces and regions, across the Yellow River and Shiyang River basins, with a total planned area of ​​100 million mu.

The entire project consists of three parts: Jingdian Phase I, Jingdian Phase II, and the Jingdian Phase II extension to Minqin Water Diversion Project (referred to as the Minqin Diversion Project). Jingdian Phase I and Phase II were completed in 1974 and 1994 respectively.

The Minliao Project also started to supply water to Minqin in 2001. The Yellow River water traveled 120 kilometers through the newly built water supply channel and finally flowed into the Hongyashan Reservoir.

After listening to Lu Hanbin's words, Zhuang Zheng also had an impression, but his eyes were more confused.

“There are channels for transferring water, so why doesn’t the county transfer water to the reservoir?”

"The cost of water transfer is too high!" said Lu Hanbin. Water sources are the key to the success of subsequent desertification control projects and it is also what he has always focused on.

"I have asked farmers in the irrigation area. Before the water diversion, the price of irrigation water was about 15 yuan per mu of land. After the water diversion, the price of water has risen sharply, exceeding 3 yuan per cubic meter, and one mu of land costs to yuan."

"This is an unattainable figure for farmers whose annual income does not exceed 1000 yuan, causing farmers to refuse to use water for irrigation."

"But for the water management department, the water fees collected are far from enough to cover the cost of water transfer. The county's finances can no longer support it. The amount of water transferred has decreased. At the same time, the drought continues and the water flow from upstream is also decreasing. It is foreseeable that the water price will continue to rise."

"If this continues, the reservoir may really dry up completely as the boss said."

Lu Hanbin's tone was steady and his words were convincing, as could be seen from the fact that Zhuang Zheng and Zhang Jing nodded from time to time.

"Boss, should the desertification control project continue?"

Guo Yang stretched out his clenched left hand and then opened it.

"Of course! We need to open up the situation!"

Through the rearview mirror, he could see the expressions and movements of several people in the back row.

Zhang Jing still kept his camera in his hand and would occasionally take pictures when he saw interesting scenery; however, Zhuang Zheng and Lu Hanbin's attention was still on him, with confusion on their faces.

"Hanbin, are you interested in transferring to the Minqin branch?" Guo Yang suddenly asked.

"Okay." Lu Hanbin didn't hesitate.

His original intention of coming to Muhe was just to earn a decent income.

But thinking about his experiences in recent days, the scene of ecological migration of people in the sandy areas was lingering in his mind. The sparkling Qingtu Lake was sleeping in the desert, and the sand onions on the dried-up surface of the Hongyashan Reservoir were swaying their bodies and waving to him.

The pattern needs to be opened up! Lu Hanbin gestured secretly with his right hand.

Zhang Jing, who had been holding the camera without saying anything, also spoke calmly at this time.

"Boss, I want to transfer here too. It will be more meaningful to record the process of desert change with camera."

"Row."

Zhuang Zheng touched his forehead and began to sweat. Thinking of his wife and children at home, he spoke with gritted teeth.

"Boss, I may have to go back."

……

Monday, August 2003, 1.

Behind the desk, Guo Yang looked at the stack of photos in his hand with a frown.

On the opposite side, Zhuang stood upright in a suit, his black leather shoes polished to a shine, his eyes revealing unconcealable worry.

"Mr. Guo, the sewage from the reservoir has been discharged, and several paper mills upstream have also been closed. The sewage discharged now is qualified after testing."

Guo Yang spread out the photos on the table one by one. In the photos, dark yellow sewage was flowing into the river continuously.

"The leaders have coordinated with the Jingdian Administration to transfer water from the Yellow River free of charge, but now is the dry season and water is very tight. We can only wait."

"We have upset a lot of people this time. Some people are saying that you and that Wenzhou businessman are related."

Guo Yang raised his eyebrows, "I just do it for my hometown."

From April last year to now, the problem of reservoir pollution has finally been solved.

In the county, Minqin Command Center of Jingdian Phase II Extension Project.

The command center is responsible for the maintenance of a section of channels and buildings. The person in charge is named Xu, a man in his forties, wearing a military coat.

"Mr. Guo, I think you should stop struggling. Water is a very powerful contradiction."

Guo Yang smiled and said nothing, with impatience hidden in his brows.

"We are in the northwest, and not many people pay attention to it. It's not like other places where leaders take it very seriously once it's reported on TV."

Listening to these discouraging words, Guo Yang also felt a little irritated. Just then, Lu Hanbin returned with a few people and hurriedly took the people away.

The exploration and design of the alfalfa desertification control project was handed over to the team from the Agricultural University through the introduction of their supervisor Weng Lixin.

The leader this time is Professor Chen from the School of Water Conservancy Engineering. With his rough and wrinkled skin, it is hard to imagine that he is an intellectual.

"When the Yellow River water is introduced into the Hongyashan Reservoir, it passes through a 60-kilometer ancient desert river channel. The water leaks and evaporates seriously, and the actual utilization rate is very low. All the lost water is borne by Minqin, so it is inevitable to increase the water price..."

Guo Yang interrupted and said, "Professor Chen, is there any way to solve the water problem in the direction of Qingtu Lake?"

"Yes, but it's very difficult. It's best to proceed step by step."

"What are the solutions?"

"The middle and upper reaches of the Shiyang River Basin use water to determine the land area and reduce the area of ​​arable land..."

Guo Yang is getting a little impatient. He wants the middle reaches to reduce the area of ​​arable land. Will the people there agree?

"Let's talk about practical matters."

Professor Chen raised his eyebrows, and there was anger in his eyes.

"If we want to restore Qingtu Lake at the tail end of the Shiyang River, there is only one fundamental measure: build another water diversion project to divert water from the Yellow River across the river basin."

"Young man, don't be so angry!"

It was quiet all around, and the swirling cool breeze made Guo Yang gradually wake up.

Inter-basin water transfer is indeed a fundamental measure to solve the water resource crisis in the Shiyang River Basin, especially in the Minqin Oasis.

The current water project is only an emergency project, and the amount of water transferred each year is limited.

But building another inter-basin water transfer project?

Guo Yang smiled bitterly and shook his head. For Alfalfa Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, this was not a question of whether it could be accomplished.

Large-scale projects involving people's livelihood cannot be led by private enterprises.

Then we can only wait for the country’s large-scale water conservancy projects, but that takes too long!
After more than 50 years of demonstration and research, the South-to-North Water Diversion Project only started construction of the East and Middle Lines a month ago.

As for the western line project involving several northwestern provinces, Guo Yang remembered that the specific implementation plan had not been finalized until he crossed over.

Therefore, Minqin’s external water source still depends on the water diversion project.

Guo Yang was like a deflated ball, deflated.

Alas! I really shouldn't have laughed at Zhuang Zheng.

the next day.

Old Song drove the car, and Guo Yang and Lu Hanbin, who were unwilling to give up, took a look around along the Hongyashan Reservoir - Minqin County - Qingtu Lake Ruins.

The still withered and yellow earth tells of its desolation.

Machine wells can be seen everywhere along the way. According to statistics, there are about 1.7 of them, ranging from a few meters, more than ten meters to hundreds of meters, and then to three hundred meters.

The serious over-exploitation of groundwater has made Guo Yang see no hope of successfully controlling desertification. The oasis will only be swallowed up by sand dunes inch by inch until it disappears.

Only by restoring the groundwater level can the vegetation in the desert have a chance to survive.

But Guo Yang remembered that the Minqin Oasis did not disappear. Twenty years later, its abundant wolfberries, mutton and desert melons were still sold all over the country, and even Qingtu Lake had water again.

If we want to save the Minqin Oasis, the most crucial thing is administrative power.

Closing machine-made wells, rationally allocating water resources upstream and downstream, and building large-scale water conservancy projects...these are the basis of governance.

Those famous desert control figures and companies in later generations, including Ant Forest, are just a speck of dust in the context of the times.

Feeling depressed, the few of them walked into a small noodle restaurant on the side of the road.

　It's suspected of violating regulations. I've been correcting it since yesterday noon. I'm so annoyed.

　　It will be on the shelves today. I don’t know when the next chapter will be written. I hope friends who see this will give me a first order to support it.

　　Please don't give me any reward, I really don't have the ability to write more.

　　grateful! ! !

　　
　
(End of this chapter)