国内英语新闻:China kicks off relocation program for South-North water diversion project

Heading to their new homes 300 kilometers away in neighboring Shayang County, the last image captured by a 12-year-old girl's camera was a slogan: "Niuhelin, your home forever."

"The hometown will be only in my memory," the girl, named Tan Yan, said despondently.

"My husband had been to Shayang County to see our new house. He told us it is a small two-storey house much better than our old bungalow," said the girl's mother, Ke Changrong.

Ke said Shayang government had allocated 6 mu (about 0.4 hectare) of arable land, which will likely help the family of four to increase income from farming.

Compared with her mom's hopeful expectations for the future, Tan Yan was missing her classmates.

"I am the only one to move away in my class. I miss them!" Playing with her camera, Tan Yan said, "I hope the teachers and classmates at my new school will help me adapt quickly."

The relocatees don't have to worry about living necessities in their new homes, since each household has been given enough food for a week as well as cooking utensils.

Mayor Zeng said the relocatees will receive government subsidies for the next 20 years, in addition to a one-off compensation payment for each household.