Chongqing denies further mass relocation in Three Gorges area to save environment

A Chongqing government spokesman on Thursday denied media reports that another four million people would be relocated because of environmental problems caused by the Three Gorges project.

　　Last month, China Business News quoted vice mayor of Chongqing Yu Yuanmu as saying the ecological safety of the area was at risk from the growing population.

　　But spokesman Wen Tianping, speaking at a regular press conference held by the Chongqing authorities on Thursday, insisted that the plan to encourage millions to leave their homes was just part of the urbanization drive and was not a forced relocation.

　　"The reports that another four million people will be moved out of the Three Gorges Reservoir area are not accurate," Wen said.

　　"The municipality aims to attract three to four million people from rural to urban areas by 2020 to narrow the urban-rural wealth gap," he said.

　　Another vice mayor of Chongqing Tang Xiwei said last month that the municipality''s development would focus on the areas within a radius of one hour''s drive from the downtown area.

　　Chongqing plans to have 22 million residents in the area by 2020, three to four million more than the current 18 million, according to Tang.

　　The area accounts for 78 percent of Chongqing''s economy volume and is expected to account for 80 percent by 2020, Tang added.

　　On June 7, Chongqing and Chengdu, capital of neighboring Sichuan Province, were selected by the National Development and Reform Commission, the country''s top economic planner, as pilot cities to work towards coordinated and balanced development between urban and rural areas.

　　In March 1997, the city, which sits on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, was approved as a centrally-administered municipality, the fourth after Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin. It was expected to spearhead economic development in China''s central and western regions.

　　Covering 82,000 square kilometers, the municipality has a population of more than 27.98 million, 55 percent of whom live in rural areas.

　　China has relocated 1.22 million people for the Three Gorges project so far and will have relocated nearly 1.4 million by the conclusion of the relocation process by the summer flood season next year, according to an official with the office of the Three Gorges Project Committee of the State Council.

Save Our Environment

World　Environment　Day，commemorated　each　year　on　5June，is　one　of　the　 principal　vehicles　through　which　the　United　Nations　stimulates　worldwide 　awareness　of　the　environment　and　enhances　political　attention　and　 action.

TheWorld　Environment　Day　slogan　selected　for　2007isMelting　Ice－a　Hot　 Topic？In　support　of　International　Polar　Year，theWED　themeselectedfor　 2007focuses　on　the　effects　thatclimatechangeishaving　on　polar　ecosystems 　and　communities，and　the　ensuing　consequences　aroundtheworld.

Inresponse　to　the　slogan　and　in　light　ofthe　core　work　and　keytask　 ofenvironmental　protection　in　China，The　State　Environmental　Protection　 Administration　selected　the　"Less　Emission　of　Pollutants　and　the　 Environment－Friendly　Society"as　China's　slogan　for　2007WEDtoshowcase　the 　Chinese　government　and　people's　determination　andaction.

OnJune 5，2006，Bei－jing and　Vancouver，host　cities of　the　next　Olympic　 Summer　and　Winter　Games，and　theUnited　Nations　Environment　Program　(UNEP) jointlycalled　on　car　owners　in　the　two　cities　to　drive　one　day　less　in　 2007tomark　the　World　Environment　Day.The　Construction　and　Environment　 Department　of　the　Beijing　Organizing　Committee　for　the　Games　of　the　XXIX 　Olympiad　(BOCOG)urged　BOCOG　staff　to　do　their　part　in　creating　 conditions　for　one　more　"blue　sky"in　theChinesecapital.