New plan for Fukushima by summer

March 11, 2015

FOUR YEARS AFTER: Abe pledges new reconstruction framework by summer

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201503110031

By EITARO TAKEYAMA/ Staff Writer

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged sharply increased support to revitalize business operations in Fukushima Prefecture, through measures to be decided in May.

That would be a key pillar of a reconstruction framework for a five-year period from fiscal 2016 that his administration will compile by this summer.

Without going into specifics, Abe unveiled the program during a news conference held on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami disaster that triggered the nuclear crisis.

The central government had designated the five-year period until fiscal 2015 as one "for intensive restoration work."

Prior to the March 10 news conference, Abe attended a joint meeting of the reconstruction promotion council and the nuclear energy disaster countermeasures headquarters and instructed them to concentrate on three main points.

The areas highlighted by Abe were that a latter five-year period framework would be compiled from fiscal 2016; the framework would seek to guide the disaster-stricken areas to greater independence; and to continue with support measures of vital importance.

At the same time, Abe told the participants that fiscal constraints did not allow for unlimited spending.

Reconstruction Minister Wataru Takeshita has already said that rather than continue with the policy of having the central government shoulder the entire burden, local governments would also be asked to bear some of the financial costs. His remarks were in reference to the reconstruction budget after fiscal 2016.

At his news conference, Abe stopped short of endorsing that stance and only said: "We will study a range of issues, while listening to the voices of disaster victims. This will include the extent to which local governments will be required to shoulder the fiscal burden."

Abe also pledged to resume operations over the entire JR Joban Line, which runs within 3 kilometers of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. Operations on part of the line that begins in Tokyo and follows the Pacific coastline of Ibaraki, Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures have been suspended since the nuclear accident.

Abe also touched upon the continuing problem of water contaminated with radioactive materials flowing out of the Fukushima No. 1 plant. He said his government would play a leading role in dealing with that issue rather than leave everything up to Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the wrecked Fukushima plant.

Gov't to craft fresh plan for Fukushima by summer: Abe

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150311p2g00m0dm037000c.html

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday that the government will outline a fresh plan by the summer for the future of Fukushima Prefecture, home to the power plant that in 2011 sparked the world's worst nuclear crisis since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

Speaking on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the March 11, 2011, earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, Abe said the government will also craft a new five-year plan by the summer to promote the recovery of Fukushima and other disaster-hit areas in northeastern Japan.

As part of a future vision of Fukushima, Abe referred to the idea that the government will help it build a center of advanced research in such new areas as robotics and renewable energy.

In an effort to better assist people in affected areas, Abe said, "With a five-year intensive reconstruction period (for Fukushima and other affected areas) ending in March next year, (the government) will draw up a framework by the summer of new assistance for reconstruction in the next five years."

Abe said the government will do its best to get parliament to approve a state budget for fiscal 2015, which will start on April 1, for reconstruction projects, and that it will implement necessary projects in fiscal 2016 and beyond.

"Reconstruction is still halfway through," he said, adding that the government is "putting an emphasis on acceleration of reconstruction."

Asked about the recent revelation of another leak of radioactive water into the ocean from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, Abe said, "It is very regrettable that Tokyo Electric Power Co. (operator of the plant) failed to sufficiently disclose information," and that the government has instructed the utility to take additional measures to curb the leak of radioactive materials.

Despite such negative news, Abe said he wants the world to see progress of the recovery through occasions such as a Group of Seven summit in Japan in 2016 and the 2019 Rugby World Cup tournament, part of which will take place in Kamaishi in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan.

The prime minister said Japan will increase efforts so it can achieve the full reconstruction of Fukushima and other disaster-hit areas in time for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics Games in Tokyo.

The government will choose the venue of next year's G-7 summit ahead of this year's summit in June in Germany. The G-7 groups Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.