Three Gorges water plan postponed

There has been less water than expected flowing into the reservoir from the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

More water than anticipated has also been let out of the reservoir because of drought further down river.

Filling the reservoir will mark the end of the multi-billion-dollar project that was started in 1993.

Landslide fear

China's Three Gorges Corporation began raising the level of the 660km-long (410 miles) reservoir in September.

The plan was to reach 175m - a level at which the project becomes fully operational - in late October or early November.

But officials have admitted that they are now not sure when that will happen.

"Less water flowed into the Three Gorges in October and this exacerbated our water shortage problems," said a statement from the corporation.

Officials said 35% less water flowed into the reservoir in October compared to the same month in 2008.

The statement added: "There was also a larger demand than expected for water further down the river for the environment, water supplies and shipping transport."