Economy

China to ensure water conservancy funds not embezzled

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-02-28 11:10

BEIJING - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said on Sunday the government would build a more effective monitoring mechanism to ensure the funds allocated for water conservation projects are not embezzled.

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Wen made the remarks during an online chat with Internet users, which is jointly hosted by the websites of central government and Xinhua News Agency.

China plans to invest four trillion yuan ($608.6 billion) over the next 10 years to harness rivers and lakes and reinforce dangerous reservoirs, a move that raised public concerns over possible misappropriation of the funds by local authorities.

Wen said the government had noticed the issue, pledging to strengthen monitoring of the funds to ensure they would be used in "wherever they are needed".