China Stalls Dam

Following environmental its´ protests, Beijing has postponed till 1997 plans to build a U$10 billion dam at Three Gorges on the Yangtze River. If ever built, the project would be the largest hydropower scheme in the world, with a 607ft high dam, a reservoir that would stretch 500 miles, and a generation capacity of 18 million kw. Supporters say the project would also improve navigation and provide flood protection.
The scheme would submerge some of the China´s most famous scenery, for Three Gorges contains majestic cliffs and gushing waters. More importantly, it would flood a million peasants out of their homesteads. Opponents claim that questions of silling and seismicity have not been addressed. The debate is sure to heat up between now and  1997.