BEIJING — China will have spent 238 billion yuan ($37.5 million) on water conservancy projects in poor areas from 2011 to 2015, according to a press conference by the Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) on Oct 15.

The money takes up 31.7 percent of the total central investment in water conservancy, which has been improving drought relief, environmental protection, flood control, hydropower, irrigation and water security in poor areas, the MWR said.

During the 2011-2015 period, China secured drinking water safety for 101 million rural residents.

Irrigation was realized in 867,000 hectares of farmland, and another 4.93 million hectares enjoyed improved irrigation in poor areas.

Dams and alert system were reinforced to cut casualties of floods by over 60 percent in poor areas.

Nearly 38,000 square kilometers of soil erosion were managed and 7.49 million kilowatts of hydropower capacity were added.

The MWR said by 2020, 80 percent of the poor rural population will have tap water, all the key poor counties and towns will achieve state-level standard of flood control, 85,000 square kilometers of soil erosion will be managed, and 3 million kilowatts of hydropower added.