Cracks in Three Gorges Dam to Be Fixed

Muzi News ^ | 6.14.03

[Enemy Of The State]

Cracks in Three Gorges Dam to Be Fixed

 

LatelineNews: 2003-6-12] BEIJING - In a rare admission of problems at the giant Three Gorges Dam in central China, officials said Thursday that cracks found in the dam could leak if not fixed.

The comments contrasted with government claims that the dam on the Yangtze river has been a success since its reservoir began to fill on June 1. The government says the water on Tuesday reached the depth necessary to allow ships to sail on the reservoir.

Inspectors have found about 80 cracks in the dam's surface, said Pan Jiazhong, head of the construction committee inspection group. He said that while they weren't a threat to safety, they could expand and cause leaking if not repaired.

``If water enters these cracks, there could be negative effects, so we are fixing them very carefully,'' Pan said at a news conference.

Chinese officials say the dam will control chronic flooding on the Yangtze and produce power needed by industry.

Critics say the dam is a waste of money and could worsen pollution by trapping sewage and industrial waste. They say an accident could cause a catastrophe in the densely populated area.

The government has moved some 720,000 of a total of 1.3 million people who are to be relocated from areas due to be inundated by the reservoir, said Guo Shuyan, director of the construction committee.

Dozens of towns and small cities have been flooded by the reservoir and 13 larger communities have been rebuilt on higher land with what the government says are much improved facilities.

However, Guo said there isn't enough farmland for many of the farmers moved above the waterline and that available is of poor quality.

Guo said the problem was being studied and proposals including the introduction of fruit growing, tourism and animal raising were being considered.

Critics also complain of corruption and negligence in resettlement work. Scattered reports say some of the tens of thousands of people moved to other parts of China have returned to the gorges area after finding their new homes inadequate.

Plans call for the reservoir's water level eventually to rise to 577 feet. At that point, the reservoir will flood an area covering 254 square miles. (AP)

[DainBramage]

'Attention Shoppers:...... Walmart customers!.....we are currently experiencing a shortage on caulk and concrete products of all types.....,

all coupons will be honored at a later date.......

thank you for shopping at china Mart..I mean Wall Mart"

[Clara Lou]

I can tell you that I wouldn't live on the downstream side of that dam for anything.

[AngrySpud]

Are 80 cracks in a new dam of this size unusual? I'd guess that all major construction projects have a few flaws or problems to be corrected.

[giotto]

I've always had a bad feeling about this behemoth. I just hope that the Chinese government will be honest about its true condition, so that when it gives way, the loss of life will be minimal.

[Restorer]

If this thing gets full and then ruptures, it will probably cause the greatest loss of life in history. We're talking perhaps tens of millions of people.

[tet68]

One of these days they are going to start wondering
where all that dynamite went.

[Enemy Of The State]

"If this thing gets full and then ruptures, it will probably cause the greatest loss of life in history. We're talking perhaps tens of millions of people"

Experts have already said that it would kill potentially millions and milliions of people. Not only would it put a serious dent in the world economy but it would send China's economy back to the pits for decades to come.


Sounds like a strategic target to me...

[Billy_bob_bob]

After googling up the phrase "dam cracks" and reading a few articles on the subject, it looks to me like cracks in concrete dams are pretty common. If the basic engineering was done right at all then I imagine this dam will be OK.

[LibKill]

I hope someone in China is reading this.

If you live downstream from the Three Gorges Dam, RUN! RUN UPHILL! RUN FOR DEAR LIFE!

[balrog666]

Plans call for the reservoir's water level eventually to rise to 577 feet. At that point, the reservoir will flood an area covering 254 square miles. (AP)

I think it will flood long before that.

[OrioleFan]

Maybe there will be some new footage for a remake of "Force 10 From Navarone"..

[Newbomb Turk]

It seems Americans think no other culture could ever construct anything such as this that may actually function.

I too sometimes think this way often. I dislike China mostly due to Bill Clinton and Loral and Walmart.

This could be real interesting though.

We may not do it first but we still do it best in the USA.

[NorseWood]

Patch it with duct tape! I have a whole bunch of it that I'll donate.

[July 4th]

If this thing gets full and then ruptures, it will probably cause the greatest loss of life in history. We're talking perhaps tens of millions of people.

Yup...if you've ever been to the Hoover Dam, just imagine that amount of water on a much larger scale. A spectacular disaster.

[Dark Wing]

You may start snickering now.

[Lawgvr1955]

Patch it with duct tape! I have a whole bunch of it that I'll donate.

As Red Green say, "If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy".

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I used to attend church with a guy who was the chief dam engineer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Prior to that he worked for the Army Corps of Engineers, same approximate responsibilities. Details of CoE dam construction are Top Secret, a higher security category than most radars and missiles.

[Springman]

"Sounds like a strategic target to me..."

Sounds good to me!