The Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party is concerned about resettlement of residents from the Three Gorges Reservoir area. It championed in-depth research by scholars and specialists in the area, which resulted in Research on Certain Ensuing Problems in the Three Gorges Area after Phase II Relocation Program and a Suggested Development Strategy.

In view of the major problems for the Three Gorges area after the second phase of relocation program, and of the problems confronting construction of basic facilities in the area, certain measures and suggestions are proposed, the primary ones being to: develop an ecological protective barrier in the area through coordinated and sustainable means; tackle unsolved problems related to the resettlement planning; designate specific departments, formulate a special management program and set up a special fund for the degrading reservoir area; and loosen land use restrictions in the area.

The State Council Three Gorges Office responded to the proposal, saying that the central government attached great importance to the development of the environment in the Three Gorges area. It also elaborated on how to address: unsolved problems related to resettlement planning; recovery of half-submerged cities; compensation to shipping companies which suffer financial losses due to closure of shipping lines; post-resettlement support for relocatees; and management of the degrading area.

(China.org.cn March 11, 2005)