OREANDA-NEWS. November 16, 2011. East China's Anhui province invested about 4.4 billion yuan (692.9 million U.S. Dollars) in water conservation during the first ten months of this year, according to figures released Wednesday by the Anhui Water Resources Bureau.

Water conservation in the province is focused on drinking-water safety in rural areas and reinforcement of reservoirs, said Ji Bing, head of the bureau.

Anhui has invested 1.43 billion yuan in projects regarding rural drinking-water safety this year, which has benefited an estimated population of 2.88 million. The province has finished strengthening 300 small reservoirs, and the reinforcement of 159 small reservoirs is underway.

Ji said the province plans to significantly improve the farmlands' capacity to withstand floods and droughts, in order to improve farmers' lives and ensure food safety.

Yu Xinrong, vice governor of Anhui province, said more than 50 of the province's counties have established water conservation planning commissions this year.

Anhui's efforts are part of a national strategy to improve the country's water conservation. The central government vowed at the beginning of this year to invest 4 trillion yuan in water conservation projects from 2011 to 2020.