Insufficient decontamination

 May 8, 2014

Naraha Town Assembly demands more decontamination

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140508_35.html 

A town assembly near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has called for more decontamination work before evacuees are allowed to return.

10 members from the town assembly including the chairman, Motoi Aoki, visited the Environment Ministry on Thursday. The delegation handed a written demand to Senior Vice Minister Shinji Inoue.

The demand urges the central government to reduce annual radiation exposure to below one millisievert before residents return home.

It says the government should be responsible for decontaminating and cleaning inside houses and buildings. It also calls for the thorough decontamination of the bottom of the town's Kido Dam.

Inoue reportedly told the delegation that the ministry will respond to the requests in a sincere manner with other relevant government offices.

Later, Chairman Aoki said the government's response will be a major factor in determining whether residents can return home. He urged the government to restore the local environment as soon as possible.

Most parts of Naraha Town were designated as an evacuation zone after the nuclear accident in March 2011. The area is currently designated as preparing for early resettlement. The central government finished decontaminating residential areas on schedule in March.

Naraha plans to decide the timing for the return of residents as early as later this month.

May 8, 2014 - Updated 16:45 UTC