A desirable urban drainage system should be completed in all cities within 10 years, according to the proposal on urban construction, released by the State Council on Monday. This speaks volumes about the importance the central authorities have attached to the quality of current urbanization.

Floods not only compromise the quality of life of residents, they also pose a serious threat to life.

Urban flooding is a headache for many cities during the rainy season every year, which besides extreme weather conditions is a result of their inadequate drainage systems. In July last year, one Beijing driver died in a flooded downtown underpass and three others drowned in a suburban road-rail intersection because the city's drainage system could not cope with the heaviest rains to have fallen on the capital in 60 years.