XI'AN: Planning authorities in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, - an area that suffers from both water shortages and floods, plan to invest 26 billion yuan (US$3.1 billion) in the next four years to build more water-control projects.

"A total of 50 projects involving water resources, urban and rural water supplies, water and soil conservation and aquaculture will be built between 2002 and 2005," said Gao Yangxiu, deputy director of the Shaanxi Provincial Development Planning Commission.

Seven reservoirs, which are all currently under construction, will be completed by the end of 2003 and construction of another 15 reservoirs will start later this year, Gao said.

Urban and rural water supply projects will also be built in Xi'an, the provincial capital, and in Weinan, Yanliang and Yulin. The construction of water plants and pipelines for 86 counties will also be carried out, according to the deputy director.

"We will pay great attention to improving rural water supply conditions. The water supply projects for 800 townships will relieve the water shortage for 2 million people and will improve water supply conditions for another 4 million farmers," Gao said.

The province will also make efforts to control the Huangpuchuan, Danjiang, Jialingjiang, Wudinghe, Yanhe, Jialuhe and Jinghe rivers and two water and soil conservation projects in loess plateau and sand areas, the deputy director said.