Officials yesterday rejected as "groundless" allegations by
international human rights groups that 1.5 million local people
have been forced out of their homes in Beijing city to make way for
Olympic venues.
Sui Zhenjiang, director of the Beijing municipal construction
committee (BMCC), told a news briefing that only 6,037 households
were relocated for the construction of the Games venues since
2002.
The relocation took place at only a few sites - the National
Stadium, the National Aquatics Centre and the Wukesong Indoor
Stadium - as most of the venues are in areas which are not
inhabited.
Sun stressed that all affected people were provided housing - of
similar or larger size - with transport facilities close by, or
compensation in lieu.
According to a working report of BMCC, 3 million sq m of
apartment space has been provided to people relocated because of
Olympic venue construction.
Besides, a strict project license system has been established to
regulate the demolition and resettlement.
Olympic-related construction is only a part of the city's fast
urbanization in the past decade.
About 40,000 households are being relocated and compensated each
year due to urban construction and renovation.
(China Daily August 16, 2007)