China starts biggest relocation since Three Gorges

China has launched its biggest relocation programme since the Three Gorges Dam, with 330,000 residents set to be moved to new homes to make way for a water project that will serve thirsty Beijing.

The first group of 499 villagers was moved Wednesday in central China’s Hubei province and a total of 60,000 people were to be relocated by September 30, the official Xinhua News Agency said today. The rest will be moved by 2014, it said.