Clear Pond,Clear Mission.docVIP

Clear Pond,Clear Mission THE massive project diverting water from Chinas southto her dry north is like a snake on a long and ardu-ous journey,crossing the various terrains of severalprovinces,and periodically confronted with compliea-tions as well.Maintaining the quality of the water is the com-mon concern of all the districts involved in the South-to-NorthWater Diversion Project and the national government has laiddown certain criteria,including that saving water comes beforechanneling it in,and treatment for pollutants and environmen-tal protection come in advance of Using the water.The watertransfer guidelines ensure that clean water will be in use innorthern China. 　　 　　One-Armed Defender Li Ji,nqun 　　 　　We went to Xichuan to interview people,and Li Jinqun wasthe first local on our list.As we got to the headworks constrne-tion site at Taocha Village near Danjiangkou Reservoir,weasked the locals for his whereabouts.One villager pointed to anelder on the bank of the canal not far from us and said,ThatsLi Jinqun; and are you the media come to interview him? No-ticing our surprise,he explained that a lot of journalists hadmade the journey before us. 　　The 63-year-old Li Jinqun is a resident of Taocha Village.In197o,in the construction of Danjiangkou Reservoir,his rightarm was severed by a wire rope.Since then,Li Jinqtm could do no hard physical labor,and neither did his family allow him. He didnt want to lead an idlelife though,so he volunteered to take on the responsibility of guarding the canal,and has done so for 40 years~ 　　 In spring,Li Jinqun plants trees along its banks,and the rest of his vigilance is a daily affair.After breakfast,he walks along its banks.Seeing any garbage,he picks it up.He cheeks on the public toilet and keeps it clean.Where the dirt road gets pot-holed or badly rutted,he repairs it.All this he does for no pay and at no ones urging.Asked why,his answer is simple and spontaneous,Ive been living on the bank of the reservoir for h