The newly-built houses along a river in Fuyang district of Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province [Photo/Xinhua]

East China's Zhejiang announced that it will include the improvement of rivers and lakes on a list of "10 must-do things for the people", and Hangzhou, capital of the province, will strive to develop 23 new "beautiful rivers and lakes" this year.

The project, entitled "Beautiful Rivers and Lakes", will focus on water pollution, water conservation, and environmental damage near bodies of water in Zhejiang, and on developing and promoting a modern management system for water resources. In 2020, 138 rivers and lakes throughout the province will be involved in the project.

The government will conduct a series of surveys to collect advice and suggestions from river and lake chiefs – people assigned to manage bodies of water – and the public. The government will used this advice to formulate ways of improving its water bodies.

Zhejiang will also award villages and towns that achieve significant progress in improving the health of their rivers and lakes.