Project completed to control effects of landslides

A 175 million yuan ($28.2 million) project to prevent landslides in the Lengmu Valley has been completed, replacing patrollers armed with alarms with a series of debris dams.

Landslides have been frequent occurrences in the valley, where the Wenchuan and Lushan earthquakes created fissures in the earth.

Liu Wanshu, geological disaster monitor for Muping, a town in Baoxing county, said she could finally have a good sleep now that the debris flow emergency management project has been installed.

The 58-year-old would patrol the valley whenever it rained. She would inform villagers of bad weather conditions with her cellphone. If a landslide appeared imminent, she would sound a hand-operated alarm and turn on her flashlight, urging the villagers to move to safety.

Thanks to her alertness, villagers avoided a giant debris flow in August, 2012. Only one person was slightly injured.

"The magnitude-8.0 Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 caused a number of cracks in the surrounding mountains, which adds to the probability of bigger debris flows," said Liu, who has been monitoring the valley since 2007.

The Lushan quake created a large area of landslides and collapsed cliffs, and it threatened the safety of the villagers and 15,000 residents of Baoxing county.

Under the central and provincial governments' support, the Lengmu Valley debris flow emergency management project was started to mitigate the problem. It was completed in October and is "designed to withstand once-in-a-century debris flows", said Wang Yu, deputy director of the county's land and resources bureau.

An automatic monitoring and early warning system provided by the Ministry of Land and Resources was also installed in the valley.

Wang said the local government is building a geological heritage park at the base, allowing for science education amid the scenery. The park will include a science museum, a display area for rare animals and a themed square.

"In the past, I would be so worried every time it rained that I could hardly fall asleep at night. In June and July when there is a lot of rain, my family has to put up a tent at a safer place," said Li Panjun, a villager living in the valley.

"I am not afraid now. The air here is fresh; the scenery is beautiful. And more tourists will come after the completion of the park," Li said.

Si Luyu contributed to the story.

Contact the writers at pengchao@chinadaily.com.cn