Chapter 561: Things that can be solved with money are not a big deal

The Three Gorges Project was an idea proposed by Sun Yat-sen in 1919. At that time, American water conservancy experts were invited to conduct demonstration, and the demonstration results showed that it was feasible.

The demonstration work of the Three Gorges Project never stopped during the entire 30 years of the Republic of China.

After the establishment of the Republic, starting from 1953, many leaders discussed and brewed the Three Gorges Project many times. At the Nanning Conference in January 1958, the leaders proposed that the meeting be arranged to discuss the Three Gorges Project, and sent a plane to pick up Lin Yishan and Li Rui, representatives of two different opinions on the construction of the Three Gorges Project, to the meeting and ask them to express their views. As early as 1956, Lin and Li published articles with opposing views in professional journals, and the debate was fierce.

After listening to opinions from all sides, the leaders proposed the policy of "active preparation and full reliability" for the construction of the Three Gorges Project. This policy was formed by affirming the construction of the Three Gorges Project while fully absorbing the reasonable part of the opposing opinions.

After the reform and opening up, the Three Gorges Project was once again promoted to the agenda. The main construction faction represented by Lin Yishan and the opposition faction represented by Li Rui have repeatedly stated their respective views to the central government, and many people from all walks of life have also put forward a large number of opinions and suggestions through various channels.

The highest decision-making level of the Party and the state has carried forward the tradition of democratic decision-making on the Three Gorges Project by the previous generation of leaders, actively welcomed opposition opinions, and absorbed their reasonable core as much as possible.

In 1979, the Ministry of Water Resources reported to the State Council on the suggestions on the Three Gorges Water Conservancy Project, suggesting that the central government make a decision as soon as possible. In July 1980, the old man took a boat from Shancheng to observe the Three Gorges Dam site, Gezhouba construction site and Jingjiang Dam, and listened to the report on the Three Gorges Project. In 1981, when listening to the report on the construction of the Three Gorges Project, he made a decisive statement: "Once you have made up your mind, don't waver!" In 1984, the above approved in principle the "Feasibility Study Report on the Three Gorges Water Conservancy Project" organized and compiled by the Yangtze River Basin Planning Office, and preliminarily determined that the Three Gorges Project would implement a low dam plan with a water storage level of 150 meters.

Even last year, when the old man met with Fu Chaoshu, chairman of the US "China News", he said: For such a major event that concerns the future generations, the Chinese government will definitely consider it carefully. Only when there is a plan with the greatest benefits and the least disadvantages will it decide to start the construction, and it will never be done rashly.

It was also last year that the higher authorities decided to further expand the demonstration and instructed the Ministry of Water Resources to re-submit the feasibility report of the Three Gorges Project. The Three Gorges Project Demonstration Leading Group headed by Qian Zhengying established 14 expert groups to conduct demonstration.

After a year and a half of demonstration, the "Feasibility Study Report on the Yangtze River Three Gorges Water Conservancy Hub" re-compiled by the Yangtze River Basin Planning Office will be submitted to the meeting again.

As a leader said: Any opinions "are based on responsibility to the country and the people. These opinions have played a very positive role in increasing the depth of demonstration, improving demonstration work and perfecting demonstration results. '

Liu Tao supports the Three Gorges Project, but he will not be disgusted with opponents like Li Rui and Huang Wanli, because these opponents play a very positive role in the democratic decision-making process. Some opposing opinions can make the argument more scientific and the implementation process more perfect. From this perspective, their contribution should be affirmed.

As for not building it because of disadvantages, that is impossible.

Because any water conservancy project has advantages and disadvantages, and there is no 100% advantage! Whether a water conservancy project is built or not, the important thing is whether the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages!

Whether to build the Three Gorges or not is a question of weighing the pros and cons, and we cannot stop eating because of choking.

An important thing for Liu Tao to return to Beijing this time is to participate in the demonstration meeting of the Three Gorges Project.

As expected, the meeting just started and immediately divided into two distinct factions. The main construction faction and the opposition faction confronted each other. The main construction faction emphasized the benefits of the Three Gorges Project after its completion, and the opposition faction emphasized the disadvantages of the Three Gorges Project.

"Now the southwest is building a large number of reservoirs and hydropower stations, such as the four major hydropower stations on the Jinsha River that have completed the project approval. The annual power generation will exceed twice the power generation of the Three Gorges Project. In the case of such a large controversy, I suggest not to build the Three Gorges Project." Huang Wanli turned a corner.

In recent years, with the continuous construction of reservoirs and hydropower stations in the southwest, a large amount of electricity has been transmitted outward, greatly alleviating the electricity consumption situation.

"According to the results of our demonstration, it is better to build than not to build, and it is better to build early than late." Qian Zhengying said the conclusion of the expert group's demonstration over the past year and a half.

"Comrade Liu Tao, tell me what you think." The old man looked at Liu Tao and called him by name.

Liu Tao pondered for a moment and said, "There is no such thing as a 100% benefit for the Three Gorges Project, or any water conservancy project. Whether the Three Gorges Project is built or not is a question of weighing the pros and cons."

"For example, a comrade just mentioned that the static total investment of 65 billion is an astronomical figure, and the total project investment is as high as 100 billion, which will bring huge financial pressure to the country. Regarding the funding issue, I think there is no need to discuss it. Not to mention the static total investment of 65 billion, even if it is doubled to 130 billion, as long as it is necessary, it can be built."

Liu Tao said, "There is also the issue of immigration, which is expected to involve 1.3 million immigrants. It is very important to resettle the immigrants. I think that this problem and that problem are ultimately a matter of money. If you think the subsidy is too little, you can increase it."

He plans to resettle these 1.3 million immigrants to Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, which are in urgent need of population. With these 1.3 million people plus the 400,000 people who need to be relocated for the construction of the four major hydropower stations on the Jinsha River, that is 1.7 million people.

With these 1.7 million people, the situation in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia can be greatly improved.

As for the increase in costs, Panshan Group lacks everything except money.

As long as money can solve the problem, it is not a big deal.

"Similarly, in terms of cultural relics, we can increase investment to protect cultural relics, such as those that can be collected in museums, and those that cannot be collected can be moved to other places for reconstruction."

Many of the opposition's opinions are actually about money.

As for those that are not about money, there are some, but not many.

This kind of non-money problem is difficult to solve.

"As for technology, we have built a large number of reservoirs and hydropower stations in the southwest in recent years, and accumulated a lot of technology. I think the time is ripe for the construction of the Three Gorges Project now." Liu Tao said.

In recent years, the construction of a large number of reservoirs and hydropower stations in the southwest has really trained a strong technical team.

And after the construction of these basic livelihood projects, the relevant supporting facilities are basically complete now.

It is for this reason that the four major hydropower stations on the Jinsha River will be launched at this time.

If not, even with the experience of Gezhouba construction, it is estimated that it will take 20 years to complete the Three Gorges Project at this time.

Now, according to Liu Tao's estimate, it will take only ten years to complete the Three Gorges Project.

The others stared at Liu Tao in amazement. They had never expected that Liu Tao's perspective would be so unique, and he could solve most of the problems with money.

You know, the money needed to invest in the Three Gorges Project is hundreds of billions of RMB.

This is not a small amount of money, but an astronomical amount of money.