There have been about 320,000 river chiefs in China’s four-level river chief system down to the township level, said Chen Lei, minister of water resources, on March 9.

While the system had been established in 25 provincial regions by the end of last year, all the other regions will have their river chief system by June.

The ministry organized three inspections that covered more than 1,000 prefecture-level cities last year to ensure the establishment of the system and more inspections will be launched, he said on the sidelines of the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress

The central authorities decided in late 2016 to establish a river chief system in the country to enhance river protection and then asked establishment of a lake chief system across the country late last year.

Chen said the lake chief system has been established in 2,180 lakes and will be extended to all lakes in the country by the end of this year.