Henan Province so far has relocated 152,700 people for the South-North Water Diversion Project (SNWD), local authorities announced Thursday.

15,000 people relocated for water diversion project.[File photo]

Henan plans to move a further 12,300 more people before October to make way for the massive project, which will take water from the Yangtze River to China's drought-prone northern regions, including Beijing.

The relocated are mostly villagers who were living close to the Danjiangkou Reservoir, one source of the SNWD, said the Office.

China's South-North Water Diversion Project will consist of three channels -- eastern, middle, and western. The construction of the middle route involves the relocation of 330,000 people in Henan and Hubei provinces.