3.2 MWR Between Oct. 1949–Mar. 1958: Water Resources …
63
• Leading medium-level technical schools to foster the development of technicians.
During this period, the Bureau of Agricultural Water Resources Engineering under
the Ministry of Agriculture was handed over to the MWR in May 1952. In 1954, the
major regions and their respective MWRs were disbanded.
In summary, soon after the founding of the PRC, as an agricultural country with
low economic development still recovering from a recent war, the principal role of the
water sector was irrigation development. Additionally, this period was characterized
by the political and administrative reforms of the state, which had further impacts
on the water resources management institution.
3.3 MWP Between Mar. 1958–Mar. 1988: Water Resources
Development and Power Development 3
In February 1958, the fifth session of the first NPC decided to merge the MWR and
the Ministry of Power as the MWP. In 1966, when the Cultural Revolution began,
the MWP was militarily controlled and the related departments in the ministry were
disbanded. At the end of 1975, the MWP was restored.
3.3.1 MWP During February 1958–July 1967
The new MWP was an industrial department with the key missions of guaranteeing the national power supply, achieving long-term hydropower development and
comprehensively developing rivers. Its detailed tasks included production management of the power sector, hydropower station and key water project construction, and
thermal power plants and transmission and transformation engineering construction.
In addition, to strengthen agricultural water resources development, benefit agriculture, and facilitate the MWP’s focus on power construction, the Bureau of Agricultural Water Resources Engineering was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture, but returned to the MWP in June 1965. The arrangements for water resources
management between the MWP and the Ministry of Agriculture were as follows:
• The Ministry of Agriculture was responsible for long-term planning and annual
planning for agricultural irrigation engineering and rural small-scale hydropower
development, in coordination with the MWP.
• Key river basin planning and large-scale project survey and design were conducted
by the MWP, coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture where related to irrigation. Medium- and small-scale river basin planning and project survey and design
were conducted by local agencies with technical guidance from the MWP.
3 Office of MWR (2003) Organization history of water (hydropower) sector (1949–2000). China
Water and Power Publisher: Beijing.
63
• Leading medium-level technical schools to foster the development of technicians.
During this period, the Bureau of Agricultural Water Resources Engineering under
the Ministry of Agriculture was handed over to the MWR in May 1952. In 1954, the
major regions and their respective MWRs were disbanded.
In summary, soon after the founding of the PRC, as an agricultural country with
low economic development still recovering from a recent war, the principal role of the
water sector was irrigation development. Additionally, this period was characterized
by the political and administrative reforms of the state, which had further impacts
on the water resources management institution.
3.3 MWP Between Mar. 1958–Mar. 1988: Water Resources
Development and Power Development 3
In February 1958, the fifth session of the first NPC decided to merge the MWR and
the Ministry of Power as the MWP. In 1966, when the Cultural Revolution began,
the MWP was militarily controlled and the related departments in the ministry were
disbanded. At the end of 1975, the MWP was restored.
3.3.1 MWP During February 1958–July 1967
The new MWP was an industrial department with the key missions of guaranteeing the national power supply, achieving long-term hydropower development and
comprehensively developing rivers. Its detailed tasks included production management of the power sector, hydropower station and key water project construction, and
thermal power plants and transmission and transformation engineering construction.
In addition, to strengthen agricultural water resources development, benefit agriculture, and facilitate the MWP’s focus on power construction, the Bureau of Agricultural Water Resources Engineering was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture, but returned to the MWP in June 1965. The arrangements for water resources
management between the MWP and the Ministry of Agriculture were as follows:
• The Ministry of Agriculture was responsible for long-term planning and annual
planning for agricultural irrigation engineering and rural small-scale hydropower
development, in coordination with the MWP.
• Key river basin planning and large-scale project survey and design were conducted
by the MWP, coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture where related to irrigation. Medium- and small-scale river basin planning and project survey and design
were conducted by local agencies with technical guidance from the MWP.
3 Office of MWR (2003) Organization history of water (hydropower) sector (1949–2000). China
Water and Power Publisher: Beijing.