Chinese authorities issued a pamphlet on Saturday about practical technologies to facilitate disaster relief and reconstruction in areas hard-hit by prolonged heavy snow, icy rain and cold weather.

The pamphlet pooled the wisdom of experts from nine organizations, including the ministries of Science and Technology, Land and Resources, Communications, Agriculture, Water Resources, Education, and the State Forestry Administration, the China Meteorological Administration, as well as the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

In the pamphlet, 51 technologies were provided to minimize damage in planting, fish breeding, poultry raising and forestry. Another 15 were for road maintenance and snow clearing, while 26 helped people guard against possible risk to their own safety in the extreme weather.

At the end of the introduction of each technology, a telephone number of relevant experts was provided in case the reader has any doubts, previously not a common practice in such publications.

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, it would, in the near future, publish a series of such pamphlets to tackle problems in other areas, including communication and power restoration, public health, food safety and geological disaster prevention.

The snow, the heaviest in five decades in many places, has been falling in China's eastern, central and southern regions for almost a month. It has caused deaths, building collapse, blackouts, traffic chaos and livestock and crop losses.

(Xinhua News Agency February 10, 2008)