China Expands Compensation Policy for Flood-Affected Communities

BEIJING:
In response to growing concerns over the social and economic impacts of flood control efforts, China has revised its compensation rules, significantly increasing support for communities affected by flood diversion strategies.

Under the newly updated policy, China’s central government will cover 70% of all compensation payments for residents and farmers affected by intentional flooding, while local governments will bear the remaining 30%. Previously, the cost-sharing arrangement depended on local fiscal capacity and the scale of losses.

For the first time, compensation will also include livestock and poultry that cannot be relocated before floodwaters are diverted into designated areas.

Flood diversion areas are part of China’s longstanding flood management strategy, designed to protect major cities by redirecting excessive river flows to adjacent low-lying zones. However, the increasing use of these zones—many of which now include farms, croplands, and residential buildings—has raised tensions among affected residents.

The revised guidelines follow last summer’s severe floods in Hebei Province, where nearly 1 million people were evacuated to make way for diverted floodwaters, prompting widespread criticism over perceived neglect of rural communities to protect urban centers like Beijing.

China has 98 official flood diversion zones, primarily along key river systems such as the Yangtze River Basin, which supports over one-third of the country’s population. During the 2023 floods, eight of these zones were activated.

According to the China Meteorological Administration, the current monsoon season has brought double the usual rainfall to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. In June, 30 weather stations across provinces like Hubei and Guizhou recorded historic levels of rainfall for the month.

Guizhou province, in particular, witnessed floods described by meteorologists as occurring once in 50 years, forcing emergency evacuations of roughly 300,000 residents.

In response, Chinese authorities pledged to relocate vulnerable populations and industries from high-risk areas and expand infrastructure to accommodate future flood diversion needs, reinforcing the country’s commitment to proactive climate resilience.