CHINA> Hometown Reconstruction
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Chengdu's priorities: education, accommodation, medication
By Zhao Xie (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-13 16:12 As the anniversary looms of the May 2008 earthquake that devastated Sichuan province and its capital city, Chengdu, global and national attention is again focused on the area -- but this time on its massive rebuilding program.
Since the beginning of August 2008, the city of Chengdu has been at the heart of a massive reconstruction program. At the forefront of the program has been a mission to restore vital services, including hospitals, schools and housing. The local authorities' ambitious reconstruction program is scheduled to run over a three-year period. It is designed to ensure the complete restoration of the region's housing stock, educational services and medical care facilities.
With many residents left homeless by the tremors, accommodation was identified as the key priority for the city. Since last year, following relief funding from governments, businesses and individuals throughout the country, the local government has invested around 6.2 billion yuan in providing replacement housing. According to the city government of Chengdu, the entire housing reconstruction project will be completed by May next year. This will see all of the local population housed in permanent residences. The most difficult part of the project has proven to be rebuilding housing stock in rural areas. This has seen the city government draft its first ever overall blueprint for rural reconstruction. |