60s: I have a store

Chapter 188 Drainage
"The Red Star Commune is planning to build a canal. Have you heard about it?"

Village Chief Wang suddenly asked.

Repair the canal?
Zhou Yimin and the old branch secretary were a little surprised, but they were relieved after a moment.

The drought was so severe that local governments began to think of solutions. Among them, building canals and diverting water naturally became the top priority. It was impossible to let it go on like this.

What if it’s the same next year?
Although the water pressure well invented by Zhou Yimin has temporarily alleviated the water pressure, this method of extracting groundwater cannot last long!

As far as they know, once the groundwater level drops, the pressurized wells may be useless. Therefore, they must be prepared in advance and not panic when there is no water.

"The commune is holding a meeting today to discuss this matter?" asked the old branch secretary.

He knew about the commune meeting. The team leader had gone to attend it and had not returned yet!

"That's right! The commune is planning to build a canal from Miyun," revealed Village Chief Wang.

He is well-informed.

There is a super reservoir in Miyun, which was built this year. Water resources are not scarce, but it is a bit far away. If they rely on the Red Star Commune alone to build a canal, it may be a bit difficult, as it is dozens of kilometers long!

The old branch secretary suddenly had a headache.

Building canals is naturally a good thing.

But for such a large project, villagers from various villages will definitely have to be mobilized to help, and it is estimated that a lot of people will be mobilized.

However, after the wheat harvest, Zhoujiazhuang is not idle. There are still many things to do in the village! Planting vegetables, raising chickens, repairing reservoirs... Which one does not require people?

"It's unreliable, right? Miyun is so far away from us." The old branch secretary felt that the news was unreliable.

That is not something that can be accomplished by just one or two communes.

Zhou Yimin speculated: "It is possible that the water is not diverted from the Miyun Reservoir, but a canal is dug through the Beijing-Miyun Water Diversion Canal."

He had the impression that there was a Beijing-Miyun water diversion canal that brought water from the Miyun Reservoir to the urban area of ​​Beijing, and it was said to be hundreds of kilometers long.

The project was being built during my country's three-year difficult period and economic adjustment period.

Zhou Yimin remembers that construction began this winter and the state invested more than 60 million yuan.

At that time, more than 60 million was an astronomical figure, unimaginable.

The Beijing-Miyun Canal mainly provides water for industrial production, farmland irrigation, and urban life in the suburbs of Beijing, and transports water to major parks and lakes.

Several small hydropower stations will be built along the way.

"Yimin guessed correctly."

Just at this moment, the captain's voice came from outside.

The captain has returned from a meeting.

Just as Zhou Yimin had thought, the Red Star Commune, together with two or three other communes, planned to build a branch canal from the Beijing-Miyanzai Canal to facilitate farming next year.

"Has the commune decided?" the old party secretary asked him.

The team leader first greeted everyone present, then found a seat to sit down and answered the old branch secretary's questions.

He just nodded and said: "Yes! We will start the work after the wheat is harvested. Each village in the commune will have to send 30 people."

The old branch secretary's face turned dark.

Taking away 30 laborers at once would be detrimental to the future development plan of Zhoujiazhuang. But it was not up to him whether he was willing or not. The higher-ups notified them, not discussed with them.

Zhou Yimin said: "Water conservancy projects benefit the country and the people, and we should actively participate in them."

Although the water brought in may not necessarily benefit Zhoujiazhuang, it is indeed a good thing for the overall situation. There is probably not much water left by the time it reaches Hongxing Commune, so how can Zhoujiazhuang use it? Zhoujiazhuang is a bit far from Hongxing Commune.

The old branch secretary smiled bitterly. This was the truth and he understood it.

Zhou Yimin added: "Taking away 30 people will not have much impact on our village."

OK! With these words, the old branch secretary and the team leader felt much more at ease. Since Yimin said so, it means he has a good idea in his mind.

"When the time comes, can we also bring some water here?" suggested Village Chief Wang.

If we don't mention it, the water from the canal basically supplies the farmland in the central area of ​​Hongxing Commune, and has nothing to do with remote villages such as Zhoujiazhuang and Shangshui Village.

Village chief Wang was somewhat unwilling.

After all, every village has its own people, but in the end they didn't get any benefits, so it would be strange if they were convinced.

If their village is not required to provide manpower, but they are not included in the contribution, it is understandable and they will not fight for it.

Village chief Wang was a cunning man. He knew that if he asked for help from just one village, it would be useless. But if he united several villages and proposed it together, the commune would surely give him some consolation, right?
"Okay, you take the lead, and we in Zhoujiazhuang will respond." The old branch secretary didn't want to be the first to take the lead, but if another village took the lead, he might as well say a few words and strive for it.

Zhou Yimin was speechless. He was afraid that he would not be able to get water from Miyun in the short term.

That’s right! In the past, the first phase of the Beijing-Miyun Canal was completed quickly, and it began to supply fresh water to the urban area of ​​Beijing in 1961.

In the first phase of the project, the government did not mobilize all farmers to participate, but instead mobilized about 5 employees from urban infrastructure, water and electricity engineering, and commercial systems to participate in the construction.

In addition, another 5 people will be drawn from party and government agencies and schools, and some migrant workers will be recruited to support construction.

The construction period is only about five months, which is quite fast.

However, the canal is too small and the water flow is insufficient to meet the water demand of the areas along the canal. Therefore, fresh water is only supplied to the urban area, and areas like theirs in the suburbs of Beijing cannot use it for the time being.

Whether it is food, fresh water or other resources, urban areas have always been prioritized, while rural areas have been slow to respond.

Village Chief Wang rolled his eyes in frustration, but had nothing to say. After all, it was his idea.

"Then our reservoir..." The captain just opened his mouth and quickly realized that there were outsiders here, so he immediately stopped talking.

"Your reservoir?" Village chief Wang looked puzzled.

"Nothing, do you have anything else to say?" The old branch secretary began to chase people away.

Zhou Yimin smiled. In fact, the construction of the reservoir could not be hidden at all. After all, it was not a small project. Besides, they were not afraid of others knowing about the construction of the reservoir.

"No, Lao Zhou, there is no need to hide the relationship between Shangshui Village and Zhoujiazhuang!" Village Chief Wang was anxious.

Afraid of missing the opportunity.

"We plan to build a reservoir behind the mountain." Zhou Yimin told him simply.

The old branch secretary and the team leader thought about it and felt that there was really no need to hide it.

"Ah! Building a reservoir? Is there water over there in the back hills?"

Why build a reservoir if there is no water?
“It’s impossible for it not to rain all the time. We build reservoirs just to store rainwater and prepare for the future,” said the old branch secretary.

Even if there is no rain, is there no snow? When it snows in winter and the snow melts, there will be water!

Besides, there used to be a stream behind the mountain, but it dried up last year. Maybe it won't be long before water flows again.

Village Chief Wang stopped talking.

Thanks to brother 08a for the 200 reward and brother cyndi1982 for the 100 reward!



(End of this chapter)