Paekma-Cholsan Waterway—Grand Nature-harnessing Project

The Paekma-Cholsan waterway project has entered into its full-scale stage. It is now carried on in line with a far-reaching plan of the Workers’ Party of Korea for nature-harnessing.

With the total length of hundreds of kilometres, this waterway project is the second large-scale natural-flow waterway project following the Kaechon-Lake Thaesong waterway completed in 2002.

Builders from all the provinces and workers from different construction enterprises have taken charge of this project.

They had to dig and fill 11,829,000 cubic metres of earth including 1,440,000-plus cubic metres of rock excavation, 220,000-odd cubic metres of concrete placing and fulfil other enormous work assignments.

From the time they had the groundbreaking ceremony in March last year up to the present they have already carried out a great portion of their work assignment with the result that the waterway has taken its shape.

Obstacles and difficulties cropped up because of the rain falling any time and delay in the supply of cement and timber.

But they have pushed through the project as scheduled in the spirit of strenuous efforts.

Whenever they were confronted with difficulties the leading officials made breaches by their practical examples.

It was one early morning in May this year. A pouring rain placed the banks of the cofferdam in danger at the construction site of a covered conduit where builders of South Hamgyong Province worked.

At this critical juncture the commanding officials rushed to the banks of the cofferdam with earth-filled sacks ahead of others. Inspired by their examples the builders all turned out in reinforcing the banks.

At last the banks were reinforced safely and they were able to begin the next piece of work in time and carry out that day’s assignment successfully.

Builders from North Hwanghae Province also successfully completed their task of digging the foundation of a covered conduit under difficult conditions and are now striving hard with an aim of completing the covered conduit project by October.

Builders from Pyongyang, South Phyongan, North Phyongan and North Hamgyong Provinces and workers from construction enterprises hasten the projects ahead of schedule by introducing advanced methods of work.

Amid the gaining speed in construction with each passing day, the waterway, tunnels, covered conduits and other structures bring their appearances to light.

With the completion of this project life-giving water will be provided to the farm fields in Phi-

hyon, Yomju, Ryongchon, Tongrim and Cholsan Counties and in Sinuiju City. The total area under irrigation is over tens of thousands of hectares of land.

Since it is a natural-flow waterway, it will economize tens of thousands of kw of electricity and will be of great economic significance as power stations will be erected here.

Article & photos: Choe Won Chol