October 11, 2012
It came to light that the budget for 3.11 disaster recovery and reconstruction work has been diverted to repairs and renovations of central government offices over the head of disaster-hit municipalities, taking advantage of the restoration effort.
According to a Ministry of Land and Infrastructure document, the FY 2012 budget earmarks a total of about 3.55 billion yen for 19 state buildings in repairs expenses.
In the national administrative district in Tokyo, for example, a joint government building which houses the Cabinet Office, the Cabinet Legislation Bureau, and the National Tax Agency is currently under renovation costing about 1.41 billion yen.
A relevant ministry official explained, “This is because those buildings will operate as temporary evacuation spots in times of disaster.” If this is the case, the general account budget is the one they should appropriate funds from.
Meanwhile, 13 municipalities in disaster-stricken areas in need of having their main offices rebuilt are still awaiting the start of the work.
Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Takahashi Chizuko said, “Even now, many disaster victims don’t know when they can rebuild their homes. They are worried whether they can settle in disaster restoration public housing. Some are still at a loss as to what to do because their houses are outside the areas covered by the government-backed collective relocation program.”
Pointing out that many victims gave up restoring their businesses or took out heavy loans to restore them at their own expense due to delays in recovery planning in the areas, Takahashi stated, “I cannot tolerate the diversion of the recovery funds for whatever reason since I have seen with my own eyes the suffering of the victims.”
However, Reconstruction Minister Hirano Tatsuo said, “In principle, rebuilding homes of victims in natural disasters should be done by their voluntary efforts. The rest are a matter of how far the government should provide public assistance or help to them.” (NHK debate program, Oct. 7)
* * *
On October 8, it was revealed that the FY 2011 supplementary budget drawn up immediately after the disaster for rescue and recovery efforts had incorporated 46 million yen for a spy satellite.
Furthermore, Akahata on October 6 discovered that the Ministry of Defense had used the recovery budget for items having nothing to do with post-disaster recovery, such as for fighter pilot training and remodeling of bathhouses, dining halls, or medical treatment rooms at Self-Defense Forces garrisons.
According to a Ministry of Land and Infrastructure document, the FY 2012 budget earmarks a total of about 3.55 billion yen for 19 state buildings in repairs expenses.
In the national administrative district in Tokyo, for example, a joint government building which houses the Cabinet Office, the Cabinet Legislation Bureau, and the National Tax Agency is currently under renovation costing about 1.41 billion yen.
A relevant ministry official explained, “This is because those buildings will operate as temporary evacuation spots in times of disaster.” If this is the case, the general account budget is the one they should appropriate funds from.
Meanwhile, 13 municipalities in disaster-stricken areas in need of having their main offices rebuilt are still awaiting the start of the work.
Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Takahashi Chizuko said, “Even now, many disaster victims don’t know when they can rebuild their homes. They are worried whether they can settle in disaster restoration public housing. Some are still at a loss as to what to do because their houses are outside the areas covered by the government-backed collective relocation program.”
Pointing out that many victims gave up restoring their businesses or took out heavy loans to restore them at their own expense due to delays in recovery planning in the areas, Takahashi stated, “I cannot tolerate the diversion of the recovery funds for whatever reason since I have seen with my own eyes the suffering of the victims.”
However, Reconstruction Minister Hirano Tatsuo said, “In principle, rebuilding homes of victims in natural disasters should be done by their voluntary efforts. The rest are a matter of how far the government should provide public assistance or help to them.” (NHK debate program, Oct. 7)
* * *
On October 8, it was revealed that the FY 2011 supplementary budget drawn up immediately after the disaster for rescue and recovery efforts had incorporated 46 million yen for a spy satellite.
Furthermore, Akahata on October 6 discovered that the Ministry of Defense had used the recovery budget for items having nothing to do with post-disaster recovery, such as for fighter pilot training and remodeling of bathhouses, dining halls, or medical treatment rooms at Self-Defense Forces garrisons.
