China to move four million more from Three Gorges area

CHINA: Four million more people are to be relocated away from China’s Three Gorges Dam area, state media reported Friday, weeks after officials warned of a potential “environmental catastrophe” there.

Already 1.4 million people have left their homes to make way for the world’s largest hydropower project, which started operations last year, but the new announcement has radically expanded the resettlement project.

The four million residents who will be “encouraged” to leave their homes live near the dam’s reservoir, which extends for 600 kilometres (370 miles), the China Daily reported, citing local officials.

Beijing, Friday, AFP