China dam to force 4 million to relocate

China plans to move at least 4 million people from their homes to ensure the "environmental safety" of the Three Gorges Dam, state media reported. The shift of a population the size of Ireland, which is due to take place over the next 10 to 15 years, will be one of the biggest environmental resettlements in modern history. The Chongqing municipality vice-mayor, Yu Yuanmu, said the move was necessary to protect the ecology of the giant reservoir formed by the dam, according to the Xinhua news agency. "On one hand, the reservoir area has a vulnerable environment, and the natural conditions make large scale urbanization or serious overpopulation impossible here," he was quoted as saying. Under Chongqing's 2007-20 rural and urban development plan, more than 4 million people currently living close to the dam's reservoir will be encouraged to resettle in the suburbs of the city, the Sina website reported. No details were given, but the move will add to the population pressures in Chongqing, which is already one of China's fastest growing cities, and raise new questions about the wisdom of building the Three Gorges Dam. The barrier was designed to control floods on the Yangtze and to reduce China's dependence on power driven by coal. But environmentalists and human rights groups have warned of dire consequences for the ecosystem and local residents. More than 1.2 million people have already been forced to leave the area because of the world's biggest hydroelectric project. The last of over 17.5 million tons of concrete was poured into the vast barrier a year ago, creating a reservoir that stretches back almost 400 miles. Initially hailed as an engineering triumph, officials warned last month that the dam could cause an "environmental catastrophe" unless remedial measures were taken. Landslides and pollution were among the "hidden dangers" that have come to light since the barrier's completion, they said. Because the water flow has been slowed, environmentalists warn the reservoir could stagnate as it fills with human and industrial waste from heavily populated riverside communities.