LHASA, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Productions of bottled drinking water in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region has increased steadily, local authorities said. Last year, 800,000 tonnes of water was bottled, up 30 percent year on year, but well short of the target of 1 million tonnes, according to the regional industry and information technology department.

The industry generated more than 1.57 billion yuan (over 223 million U.S. dollars) and employed 20,000 people.

Tibet has 35 bottled water producers, mainly based in regional capital Lhasa.

According to a 10-year plan introduced in 2015, Tibet has identified fresh water resources as a sustainable growth pillar.

Tibet has about 16.5 percent of the national total of water resources.