Singapore honours China's Yellow River conservation agency

SINGAPORE — Singapore said Wednesday it was awarding more than 200,000 US dollars to a Chinese conservation agency for its work to improve water supply and reduce flood risks on China's Yellow River.The Yellow River Conservancy Commission (YRCC), in charge of the river and its inland basins, was chosen as this year's winner for the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, named after Singapore's founding father and former prime minister.Resource-starved Singapore, which recycles sewage into clean water for use in factories and homes, each year honours persons or groups for "outstanding contributions" in solving the world's water problems.Last year's winner was Gatze Lettinga, an environmental engineer from Amsterdam who pioneered an environmentally friendly, low-cost way of treating waste water and refused to patent the process."The improved, reliable supply of water brought about by YRCC's efforts have benefitted... the quality of life for over one hundred million people both in the basin and in regions served by the river," the award organisers said."Large areas of wetlands and biodiversity in (the) Yellow River Delta have also been restored over the years, returning life and vitality to the river."With the highest volume of sediment concentration among the world's major rivers, the Yellow River is highly prone to flooding.But the commission was able to reduce flood risks by regulating water and sediment flow in an integrated management operation that required the use of technology and consultations with the affected communities.The Singapore award comes with a cash prize of 300,000 Singapore dollars (214,000 US) and a gold medallion.Lee, now a senior adviser in the cabinet with the title of minister mentor, will present the award during a water conference in Singapore in June. The YRCC beat 49 other nominees for the prize. Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »

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