Equipment theft paralyzes river lock
( 2003-12-05 17:29) (China Daily)
A mechanized lock on the Nieshui River in Central China's Hubei Province was
rendered inoperative before it was ever used after some important equipment was
stolen by a guard, reports Wuhan Evening News.
With a total investment equalling 30 million yuan (US$3.61 million), the lock
was completed in 2000 but had not been put into use due to a shortage of funds
during the last phase of construction.
Li Jianhua, one of the guards at the lock area, and some friends have been
arrested for stealing many important pieces of equipment necessary to run the
lock, ranging from electric motors to axels.
Li and his cohorts sold the parts for 7,000 yuan (US$845), although the
actual value of the stolen goods exceeded 200,000 yuan (US$24,160). However, the
amount of money needed to repair the lock will be much greater than
that.
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