Experts have found 80 hairline cracks in China's
Three Gorges Dam, amid reports of poor workmanship on the world's
largest water project, expected to take 17 years – completion expected
in 2009. An estimated 250,000 workers are involved in the project and
the reservoir will cover 632 square kilometres (395 square miles) of land.
Government officials estimate that the dam will resettle 1.2 million people.
Critics complain about substandard construction work, corruption and negligence
in resettlement work. The project is expected to produce up to one-ninth
of China's total output of electricity.