Billions to help people displaced by hydro dam

BEIJING - The Chinese government will invest 124 billion yuan ($19 billion) during the coming 10 years on follow-up projects associated with the Three Gorges Dam, an official who was in charge of the project told China Daily.

The investment will mainly be used for infrastructure construction in the 20 counties where people were resettled following the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. The money will also pay for environmental protection and natural disaster prevention, said Gao Jinbang, former deputy director of the Three Gorges Project Construction Committee Executive Office under the State Council.

Gao said the State Council has agreed to the general plan. The details will be made public later this year after the final touches are added.