Local reactions to lifting of advisory

Local residents remain concerned despite the central government's announcement that it will lift an evacuation advisory in Fukushima Prefecture.

Mayor Motohoshi Yamada of Hirono Town, one of the 5 municipalities included in the evacuation advisory, said on Friday the central government appears to be promoting reconstruction plans unilaterally.

He said the central government should first provide local municipalities with guidelines for measuring radiation and carrying out decontamination.

He added that he will request financial assistance from the central government, as it won't be possible to decontaminate the town without state assistance.

A resident of Minamisoma City, which is partly included in the evacuation advisory, said she doesn't feel relieved because the decontamination work has made little progress. The 57-year-old woman said she hopes the city's radiation levels will decline noticeably through the decontamination efforts.

A 61-year-old taxi driver in Minamisoma said business has been bad as many people have left the city. He said he hopes the lifting of the evacuation advisory will encourage residents to return to their homes.

A 36-year-old shop clerk said he doubts that firms will return to the city even after the evacuation advisory is lifted. He said he wants the central government and the operator of the nuclear plant to assume responsibility for decontaminating the city.

Friday, September 30, 2011 15:04 +0900 (JST)