500 thousand people living on the outskirts of Beijing are being relocated to protect the environment.
   
The Beijing Times reports that people living in the mountainous regions of Men Tougou and Yanqing on Beijing's outskirts will be moved elsewhere to protect the fragile local eco system and reduce sand storms.
   
The newspaper quotes the former director of the State Forestry Administration, Wang Zhibao saying the best way to prevent deterioration of the local environment is to get people out the area.
   
He says for the last 4 years, the government has been keen on this policy and the environmental situation in some regions is getting better. Grass and trees are growing again on once barren land and there have been fewer sandstorms.
  
The government will continue the relocating work. It's reported the first batch of 200 thousand people has already been relocated to nearby towns.

(CRI.com.cn March 11, 2005)