LHASA - Productions of bottled drinking water in Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region has increased steadily, local authorities said. Last year, 800,000 metric tons of water was bottled, up 30 percent year-on-year, but well short of the target of 1 million tons, according to the regional industry and information technology department.

The industry generated more than 1.57 billion yuan ($223 million) 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.