The Changjiang Water Resources Commission decided to increase the average daily discharge of the Three Gorges Reservoir from 8,390 cubic meters per second to about 12,000 cubic meters per second starting from May 15.

　　This increase of discharge is to meet the water demand during the critical spring farming period in the major grain-producing areas in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. It will also help balance flood control and drought relief in the Yangtze River basin. (Correspondent/Peng Qiang)