The reconstruction project of the 921 Earthquake has borne fruit, since nearly 95 percent of the reconstruction project was completed by the fifth anniversary of the quake, the Cabinet announced yesterday.
The 7.6-magnitude tremor that rattled the country on Sept. 21, 1999 was the nation's deadliest in five decades, killing 2,415 people and injuring more than 10,000. More than 100,000 residents were displaced, and property damage was on a massive scale.
According to Cabinet Spokesman Chen Chi-mai (
Achievements from Sept. 21, 1999 to June 2000 included the establishment of a Cabinet-level ad hoc reconstruction committee, passage of the Temporary Statute for Post-Earthquake Reconstruction (
The reconstruction project from June 2000 to May this year focused on the reconstruction of public construction and communities, availability of preferential interest loan, demolition of prefabricated housing and financial and psychological aid to ethnic minorities and the underprivileged in disaster areas.
Social welfare projects, industry revitalization efforts and creation of job opportunities were completed between August 2002 and May this year.
In social welfare programs, over 80 communities were rebuilt with government funding, farming villages received funding to develop their individual agricultural industry and underprivileged or minority groups also received financial aid to open businesses of their own.
In industry revitalization initiatives and creation of job opportunity, four tourism routes were created in disaster areas to promote agricultural and leisure tourism, 18 commercial sites were established to boost local businesses and 181 tourist attractions were rebuilt to lure visitors.
From July last year to February next year, the reconstruction project will focus on the continuation of unfinished work and creation of new jobs.
As the Temporary Statute for Post-Earthquake Reconstruction is due to expire next February, reconstruction businesses will be turned over from the ad hoc reconstruction committee to organizations such as the transportation ministry or the Public Construction Commission.
The Cabinet is also planning to build a 921 memorial park in recognition of the completion of the reconstruction work.
The construction of the park is scheduled to start next month and be completed in April.
The Chelungpu Fault (
The Cabinet yesterday also vowed to promote diversified industries and leisure agriculture in disaster areas.
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