In an attempt to repopulate areas close to the Fukushima power plant, the Japanese government is offering large sums of money to those agreeing to move there.
The catch however is that they will have to stay there for at least five years.
RT reports: The repopulation program, aimed at 12 municipalities surrounding the nuclear plant that were crippled during the 2011 earthquake, is set to be launched by Japan’s Reconstruction Agency next year, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported.
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The program was designed to revitalize the region as even after the evacuation orders had been lifted, former residents of the area proved to be not very eager to return, the reconstruction minister, Katsuei Hirasawa, said. So far, only 20 percent of residents have returned to the Fukushima station surroundings that remain largely deserted.
The agency will provide financial incentive packages ranging from 1.2 million yen ($11,600) to families from other parts of Fukushima Prefecture, and up to 2 million ($19,300) to those willing to relocate from other parts of the country. The main requirement is that a family lives for five years in the agreed location.
Single individuals are encouraged to come and live around the nuclear plant as well. These packages are somewhat lower, ranging from 800,000 yen ($7,750) to Fukushima prefecture-dwellers to 1.2 million for those coming from elsewhere in Japan. A special offer also awaits those industrious enough to start businesses up in the municipalities, as they are eligible for a package of up to 4 million yen ($38,700).
The government does not appear to be hugely optimistic about the prospects of its reconstruction program, setting the modest goal of 300 people moving in during the first year.
The Fukushima nuclear power plant suffered a catastrophic meltdown in 2011 after a 9.0-magnitude earthquake which triggered a 15-meter tsunami. The catastrophe forced the evacuation of 150,000 people from within 20km of the plant, as well as other areas hit by nuclear fallout. The cleanup work, ongoing since the disaster, is expected to drag on for many more years.
Niamh Harris
Sage than the compulsory vaccine more deadly than the disease Safe they say ,who are immune against any damages to pay ,but profits to roll in like bales of hay .Maybe Pfizer should offer incentives .Or maybe the government that’s legislating their way.
If govt. wants people – let them take Tokyo.
So we will see how stupid Japanese people are.