Rioters Assail Reservoir

Source: Shanghai Daily

More than 300 people in a southern Chinese town attacked a government building over the weekend to protest a water diversion scheme, Xinhua news agency said yesterday.

The attack happened in Hengshishui in the booming southern province of Guangdong, Xinhua said. At least six people were injured, including two government officials.

The villagers wanted the government to stop the ongoing construction of a reservoir planned to divert water from Hengshishui town to the neighboring Qiaotou town.

The reservoir is aimed at providing drinking water to more than 50,000 people, but people in Hengshishui feared it would worsen the town's already dire water problem.

Around 100 villagers took to the streets on Saturday, smashing cranes and vehicles with stones in an attempt to stop the reservoir's construction. Police detained six of them.

Calm returned yesterday, Xinhua said.

[More Guangdong and Pan PRD News]

Editor: Jessie Hwang