4.4 RBO in China: Institutional Setting
99
4.4 RBO in China: Institutional Setting
The river basin management institution has a long history in China. During the first
emperor’s regime in the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-207 BC), the central government
appointed residential or temporary officials or missions to be responsible for river
harnessing. During the Yuan (1271 AD-1368 AD), Ming (1368 AD-1644 AD), and
Qing (1644 AD-1911 AD) Dynasties, a permanent trans-jurisdictional agency, or
river governor, was established in order to guarantee grain transportation and sustain
financial support for the capital, as well as to control flood disasters in the Yellow,
Huai, and Hai River Basins. In the 1920s and 30 s, modern RBOs were set up by
the central government, including the Huai Conducting Commission in 1928, North
China Water Resources Commission in 1928, Yangtze Water Resources Commission in 1935, Yellow River Water Resources Commission in 1933, and Pearl Water
Resources Bureau in 1937 (Compiling Group 1979).
4.4.1 RBO Development After 1949
4.4.1.1 1950s
After 1949, in light of large-scale water infrastructure development, RBOs played
an important role in river basin comprehensive development and use. At the same
time, RBOs underwent several restructuring efforts, which can be grouped into five
time periods.
During the 1950s, the central government paid significant attention to river basin
development and management. In November 1949, MWR decided to “set up directleading Yellow River Water Resources Commission, Yangtze River Water Resources
Commission, and Huai River Water Resources Engineering General Bureau; in
order to comprehensively plan water resources development in key water courses
to mutually consider disaster relief and development between upstream and downstream, mainstream and tributary in every river system.” In October 1950, the State
Council issued its “Decision on Harness Huai River” to revoke the Huai River
Water Resources Engineering General Bureau and set up the Huai River Harness
Commission.
In addition to setting up RBOs for the Yellow River, Yangtze River, and Huai
River, MWR set up the direct-leading water resources survey and design institutes
in great zones (areas above the provincial level but under the state level, such as
Northern China, Southwest China, Northwest China, etc.). These institutes were not
only responsible for compiling river basin plans, but they also reviewed regional
and departmental design plans and budgets and coordinated interprovincial water
conflicts. National water resource design institutes conducted certain tasks of river
basin management without RBOs until the beginning of the 1980s.
99
4.4 RBO in China: Institutional Setting
The river basin management institution has a long history in China. During the first
emperor’s regime in the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-207 BC), the central government
appointed residential or temporary officials or missions to be responsible for river
harnessing. During the Yuan (1271 AD-1368 AD), Ming (1368 AD-1644 AD), and
Qing (1644 AD-1911 AD) Dynasties, a permanent trans-jurisdictional agency, or
river governor, was established in order to guarantee grain transportation and sustain
financial support for the capital, as well as to control flood disasters in the Yellow,
Huai, and Hai River Basins. In the 1920s and 30 s, modern RBOs were set up by
the central government, including the Huai Conducting Commission in 1928, North
China Water Resources Commission in 1928, Yangtze Water Resources Commission in 1935, Yellow River Water Resources Commission in 1933, and Pearl Water
Resources Bureau in 1937 (Compiling Group 1979).
4.4.1 RBO Development After 1949
4.4.1.1 1950s
After 1949, in light of large-scale water infrastructure development, RBOs played
an important role in river basin comprehensive development and use. At the same
time, RBOs underwent several restructuring efforts, which can be grouped into five
time periods.
During the 1950s, the central government paid significant attention to river basin
development and management. In November 1949, MWR decided to “set up directleading Yellow River Water Resources Commission, Yangtze River Water Resources
Commission, and Huai River Water Resources Engineering General Bureau; in
order to comprehensively plan water resources development in key water courses
to mutually consider disaster relief and development between upstream and downstream, mainstream and tributary in every river system.” In October 1950, the State
Council issued its “Decision on Harness Huai River” to revoke the Huai River
Water Resources Engineering General Bureau and set up the Huai River Harness
Commission.
In addition to setting up RBOs for the Yellow River, Yangtze River, and Huai
River, MWR set up the direct-leading water resources survey and design institutes
in great zones (areas above the provincial level but under the state level, such as
Northern China, Southwest China, Northwest China, etc.). These institutes were not
only responsible for compiling river basin plans, but they also reviewed regional
and departmental design plans and budgets and coordinated interprovincial water
conflicts. National water resource design institutes conducted certain tasks of river
basin management without RBOs until the beginning of the 1980s.