In order to make the world's largest radio telescope operational, China will be relocating nearly 9,000 people from Guizhou's Pingtang and Luodian counties. With this gigantic telescope, China wants to boost the global hunt for extraterrestrial life in our universe.           

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According to Xinhua news agency, provincial officials will be relocating 9,110 residents living within five kilometres of the huge telescope by September this year.

The massive relocation will "create sound electromagnetic wave environment," senior Communist party leader Li Yuecheng' said.             

Concerned residents will be reportedly given 12,000 Yuan in subsidies for their inconvenience, along with some extra support to build new house at another location.

China started constructing the 500m-wide Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope in 2011. The massive construction is almost complete, with few formal touch ups remaining, which is expected to be completed by the end of September this year. The Chinese government has reportedly spent 1.2bn Yuan on this ambitious project.                   

When this huge telescope eventually becomes operational in September, it will dwarf the world's current largest telescope - the 'Arecibo Observatory' in Puerto Rico. 'Arecibo Observatory' is 300 meter in diameter, as compared to China's 500 meter telescope.

Officials from China's Astronomical Society are pretty confident that the high level of sensitivity of this 500 meter telescope will help in finding traces of alien life in our universe.                   

Apart from bolstering the hunt for extraterrestrial life, this huge telescope will also showcase China's technological prowess to the world. China considers success in 'technology' and 'space' very critical to boost its global influence across the world. Keeping this in mind, China is already planning to construct a permanent orbiting station by 2020.      

TagsChina Radio Telescope, world's largest telescope, Guizhou Province