Ning County is located in east of Gansu Province, in the gully area of loess plateau. It covers an area of 2,656 km2, arable land 960,000 Chinese Mu (640km2), governing 18 towns, 257 villages, 1,707 groups, with a population of 524,000. In 2006, the county GDP was RMB 1,190 millions (US$167.6 millions) and villagers’ net income per capita was 1,697 RMB(US$ 242.43). The county’s economic growth is very slow and the local government is facing severe financial difficulties, therefore, the county is listed as one of the national poverty-alleviation key counties.

PanKe Town is an eastmost town in GanSu, 58 km away from Ning County, governing 524 villages and a population of 43,000. DouWan Village lies 12 km west of PanKe Town, governing 9 groups. The village has 372 families and a population of 1,665, 186 cattle and 411 sheep. In 2006, the villagers’ net income per capita was 1,560 RMB. There is a great difficulty for people and animal to avail drinking water. In the early 1990s, the village had a well, but gradually it became dilapidated and the well’s wall collapsed in March 2006, after the close examination conducted by specialists of County’s Water Works Department, the well was declared as useless. For more than one year, villagers have to walk more than 10 Li (5km) to carry water from the neighboring GuanYin Village or NanCang Village in XiangYue Town using primitive carts. The route is long and more often than not, villagers have to wait in a long line. Sometimes, water in the wells are insufficient, villagers even quarrel and fight for their share of water. The severe lack of drinking water takes its toll on villagers’ normal life and work. All 1,665 villagers cry for quick solution to their drinking water problem. After Water Department's spot survey and recommended to dig a new well with a 15m elevated water tower of 30m3 storage, one control room, one inspection, one sub-merged pump, 350 m long cable, one 30 KVA transformer and circuit breakers electric panel. According to the budget, this well project incurs an investment of RMB 175,300, which is not affordable due to township financial hardships. The town government has raised RMB 30,000 from the county’s relevant departments. However, there still is a gap of RMB 145,300(US$20,800) and HuaQiao Foundation came to aid.

10/5/2008 2:58 AM to 3/29/2009 4:58 AM

DouWan Village, PanKe Town, Ning County, GanSu Province, China

Environment

Architecture, Farming and Agriculture