"Reconstruction bases in low-radiation areas"

September 28, 2012

Panel advises to set up communities outside Namie

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120928_41.html

A panel has proposed to set up new resident communities outside Namie Town in northeastern Japan within 18 months, as it expects the town's reconstruction to take about 5 years.

Namie Town in Fukushima Prefecture was declared no-entry and evacuation zones after the nuclear accident in March last year. All of its approximately 20,000 residents are now living in other parts of the country.

A panel of experts and residents began discussing rehabilitation steps for the town in June. It compiled the town's first such plan, and submitted it to Namie Mayor Tamotsu Baba on Friday.

The panel says reconstruction will take about 5 years. It also says that priority should be put on rebuilding infrastructure, and setting up reconstruction bases in low-radiation areas.

It also recommends the establishment of public housing in about 3 sites, such as Minami Soma City, Iwaki City and other candidate municipalities, where many of Namie's residents want to live.

Mayor Baba says he wants to begin explaining the plan to residents as soon as possible.

The town will submit the proposal for debate to an extraordinary session of the town assembly next month.