Resettlement operations for the construction of the Three Gorges Project, the world-largest water-control scheme, has won full support from many parts of China.

Various areas of the country have poured more than 1.6 billion yuan (about 193 million US dollars) into the Three Gorges reservoir area over the past four years to support completion of the project, said Qi Lin, director of the Resettlement Bureau of the Three Gorges Project Construction Commission.

When the reservoir is filled with water, 632 square kilometers of land will be submerged and 21 counties and cities in Sichuan and Hubei provinces will be affected by the year 2009.

To ensure the smooth progress of the project, the State Council, China's highest governing body, has called on various areas to support the resettlement program.

Qi said 20 provinces and cities nationwide have provided support with funding, technology and materials to the reservoir area, and helped the area launch more than 800 projects.

Governments of various districts have encouraged major companies to develop name-brand products in areas near the reservoir.

Wahaha Group, a well-known confectionery firm, has merged three enterprises in Fuling, Sichuan Province. After technological upgrading of the enterprises, the group has not only relocated more than 1,200 employees of the enterprises, but also recruited 1,500 migrant workers from rural areas close to the reservoir.

The official also said that a number of scientific research institutes across the country have provided technology to promote agricultural development in areas surrounding the reservoir, free of charge.

Aided by technicians from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jilin and Guangdong provinces, farmers in the reservoir area have become better off by applying fine methods of planting American Ginseng, melons, and raising soft-shelled turtles and deer.

Poor education and overpopulation on scarce land resources have conspired to curb the economic development of the reservoir area.

In recent years other parts of China have trained more than 4,000 personnel for the reservoir area. Guangdong Province plans to invest in the rebuilding of 165 secondary and primary schools in the area.

Ministries or companies under the State Council have also lent support to the resettlement. The State Commission of Science and Technology has introduced new techniques in the planting of rice, vegetables and oranges.

The Ministry of Agriculture has invested more than 25 million yuan in the reservoir area, establishing a score of research centers.

Thanks to the support from across the country, the resettlement is making smooth progress. So far, more than 20,000 people have been resettled, 75,000 square meters of housing have been rebuilt, and over 60 new factories have gone into operation. In addition, 2,500 factories are being built.