First fruits of reconstruction bloom

By Zhao Shijun (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-13 15:47

To ensure the efficacy of this initiative, in a pioneering move, Chengdu's city government formed a taskforce of planning researchers. This team was sent into the rural areas with a brief to identity appropriate solutions for providing enhanced living environments and opportunities for rural industrial development.

Students studying in a temporary school building. Following months of restoration work, all of the students in the city are expected to have permanent school facilities by next spring. [China Daily]

Covering 12,390 sq km, Chengdu has a population of 11 million, including 6.63 million rural residents. According to Wang Songtao, chief planner of the Chengdu Planning Bureau, this makes it "a metropolis surrounded by huge rural belt."

Wang said: "Planning for rural reconstruction is a complicated job. We should draft plans in accordance with the living environment and customs of the countryside. This is a process completely different to urban planning."

At present, the planning bureau is holding an exhibition of the reconstruction plans, aiming to invite comments and suggestions from the public. So far, residents' reactions to the plans are said to be "encouraging".

After visiting the exhibition, one local resident surnamed Deng, commented: "I am very satisfied with the plans. They have conveyed a very clear idea - whilst the city can be built into a modern metropolis with booming commerce and industries, the rural areas should develop toward a new style of countryside with a good ecological balance and environmentally-friendly farming-related industries."

Local statistics show that there are now 3,523 reconstruction projects underway or at the planning stage in the four areas most severely damaged by the quake. The projects involve a total investment of 97.88 billion yuan.

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