OREANDA-NEWS. September 20, 2012. The commencement ceremony of the project of water diversion of Huaibei was held in Huaibei on the morning of September 19. Governor Li Bin announced the start of the project. Zhan Xialai, a standing member of CPC Anhui Provincial Committee and executive governor, delivered a speech. Han Xiancong, secretary general of Anhui Provincial Government, presided over the ceremony.

The project of water diversion of Huaibei is a trans-region key project in the system of water allocation of "three horizontal, three vertical", which is a great infrastructure supporting the development of Northern Anhui and is also a extension of the project of South-to-North Water Diversion.

Zhan pointed out that the implementation of the project is conducive to relieving the water shortage in Huaibei and Suzhou and is beneficial to the safety of water supply in Northern Anhui.

According to the planning, the project is 265.9 kilometers long.Water pumping stations at 6 levels will be set up between Huai River and Huangqiao Floodgate.