The central government allocated a total of 953 million yuan in investment for building drinking water facilities in rural areas throughout Tibet during the nine years between 2000 and 2008, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Water Resources. Nearly 10,000 various drinking water projects were constructed in 73 counties and cities in the entire Tibetan Autonomous Region, solving the issue of drinking water safety for 1.44 million farmers and herdsmen and providing drinking water supply for 8.86 million livestock.

According to Wang Xiaodong, General Director of the Department of Irrigation, Drainage and Rural Water Supply of the Ministry of Water Resources, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council have always attached great importance to the solving of drinking water problems for the massive population of farmers and herdsmen in Tibet, and have made great efforts in offering preferential policies and special assistance to arrange investment and technical aid. The tap water facilities installation rate for rural and pastoral areas in Tibet increased from 12 percent in 2000 to the present 61 percent.

By People's Daily Online