Outline of Principle Policies for Miyagi Prefecture Earthquake Disaster Restoration (preliminary draft)
～The Bond of Miyagi, Tohoku, Japan / From Regeneration to Further Development～
１ Purpose
○To provide a summary of the principle policies of Miyagi Prefecture with regard to restoration following the Great East Japan Earthquake.
○To draw up a reconstruction plan based on these principle policies and link this to concrete/specific business development.
２ Outline
Fundamental Concepts
Each individual citizen as an agent for restoration
With a spirit of togetherness in Miyagi, Tohoku and Japan we aim for each citizen to realize their individual roles in the reconstruction effort and for the nation, prefecture, municipality and local organizations to come together to reconstruct and further develop the prefecture.
Not merely “restoration” but also “reconstruction”
We do not aim to simply “restore” rather, we aim to develop an appropriate infrastructure through fundamental “reconstruction” in diverse areas including, agriculture forestry and fishing, commerce and industry, manufacturing, and the upgrading and placement of community facilities/disaster prevention facilities.
Forward-thinking urban planning that responds to the problems facing modern society
As we push forward with the restoration effort, we aim to pursue forward-looking urban planning that responds to issues surrounding modern society such as population decline, falling birthrate, an aging population, environmental conservation and coexistence with nature, and the development of safe and secure local communities.
Develop a model for reconstruction after catastrophic damage
By achieving a restoration process that incorporates new ideas and initiatives, we aim in 10 years’ time (2020) to have developed a model for recovery from catastrophic damage.
（2）Basic Policy/Ideas
① Timescale ・10-year plan, 2011-2020
・Restoration period (3years), Regeneration period (4 years), Development period (3 years)
② Agents for reconstruction
・Individual citizens to become agents for recovery,
combined with a government system providing full
support to private sector activities
③ Support needed
・Human and material support from the government, other prefectures, municipalities, and the private sector
・Large scale reconstruction contracts/projects directly implemented by the government (reducing the burden on the prefecture and afflicted municipalities)
・Flexible and secure fiscal measures in the form of large scale government disaster recovery grants/local government grants (securing funds for the prefecture and afflicted municipalities)
・Establishment of flexible systems that prioritize restoration of afflicted areas. Application of special legislation and specific systems that reflect the actual situation in the afflicted areas (flexible operation of regulations)
（3）Matters of top priority
Life support for disaster victims
(provide temporary housing (30,000 homes), facilitate secondary evacuation, provide life support for disaster victims, support for repairing homes etc.)
Prompt restoration of public facilities and lifeline utilities
(restore roads, ports, waterways, coastal areas, airport, railways, water and sewage systems, electricity, gas, communications)
Recovery of administrative functions in afflicted municipalities
(restore facilities, official documents and information systems; secure personnel etc.)
Waste Disposal
(remove the huge volume of waste left by the tsunami within 1 year, and dispose of this waste within 3 years)
Securing the education environment
(secure nursery, elementary, junior and high school education, ensure sufficient facilities and teaching staff, and promptly restore social education and educational facilities)
Securing insurance, medical care, and welfare
(restore facilities in afflicted areas, secure health and sanitation, support those providing relief)
Securing employment and living expenses
(secure employment and living expenses for disaster victims and employment for recent graduates)
Initial restoration of agriculture, forestry and fisheries industries
(restore agricultural land, fishing grounds and forests, and provide financial support for markets, distribution, and sales etc.)
Restoration of commerce and industry
(provide financial support in the form of operating capital and funds for the restoration of facilities and services. Business consultation etc.)
Rebuilding a safe and secure local community
(re-examine disaster prevention schemes, restore disaster prevention facilities and services, monitor radiation, secure systems of law enforcement)
（4）Restoration of coastal settlements affected by the disaster
○ The coastal towns/cities of Kesennuma, Minamisanriku, Ishinomaki, Onagawa, Higashi Matsushima, Matsushima, Rifu, Shigoama, Tagajo, Shichigahama, Sendai, Natori, Iwanuma, Watari, Yamoto, suffered enormous damage as a result of the huge tsunami. Full restoration of these areas will not be possible.
○ Regeneration through the reformulation of a new “grand design” for cities and towns that takes a medium-long term view is a must.
○ In particular, with regards to the grand design of residential areas, agricultural regions, fishing ports, harbor areas, commercial and industrial areas, there is a need to fundamentally revise the way of thinking of local residents/cities/towns in terms of the nature of disaster prevention and industrial development etc.
○ Provision of full and long-term support for the restoration efforts of local communities from a variety of sources including the government, prefecture, other municipalities, business, and other organizations.
○ Prevent unregulated use of land, and promote new urban development by supporting the realization of a restoration plan for cities/towns that includes building restrictions, town planning, human/personnel and technological support etc.
（5）Restoration of the whole prefecture
○ Damage resulting from the earthquake and tsunami has been enormous, and has greatly affected all aspects of citizens’ lives.
○ このため、県政全般について分野毎の復興の基本的な方向性を示す。
○ 施策を展開する上では、県全体の防災や産業振興のあり方を抜本的に見直し、被災地を中心に、最適な公共施設や設備の配置などの基盤づくりを図る必要がある。
○ 県民生活の復興を図りさらなる発展に結びつけるため、各分野とも、復旧期・再生期・発展期の各段階を踏まえた効果的な施策の展開を図る。
○ 最終的には、本県の長期総合計画である「宮城の将来ビジョン」に掲げた「富県宮城の実現」、「安心と活力に満ちた地域社会づくり」、「人と自然が調和した美しく安全な県土づくり」の政策推進の基本方向に基づき、県民が県勢の発展を実感できる地域社会を実現していく。
① 環境・生活・衛生・廃棄物
② 保健・医療・福祉
③ 経済・商工・観光・雇用
④ 農業・林業・水産業
⑤ 公共土木施設
⑥ 教育
⑦ 防災・安全･安心
（6）県の行財政運営の基本方針
① 徹底した復興事業へのシフト・重点化
・復旧期・再生期においては、徹底して復興事業へ財源・人材を振り向ける。
・既存の事務事業の見直しを大幅に行い、財源・人材の集中化・重点化を図る。
② 財源確保対策
・災害復興交付金、地方交付税など、国による自由度の高い確実な財源措置が必要である。
・県の自助努力として、県の独自課税（「みやぎ発展税」、「みやぎ環境税」、「産業廃棄物税」）の税収を、制度の趣旨を損なわない範囲で復興のための経費に充当する。
３ 今後のスケジュール等
○ 今後、基本方針に基づき、議会、県民、市町村、有識者等の意見を踏まえながら「（仮称）宮城県震災復興計画」を策定する（平成 23 年 8 月中を目途、９月議会に議案として上程予定）。
○ 基本方針（素案）についても、適宜修正等を行い確定していく。
○ 県全体の基本方針、復興計画を踏まえて、各部局において必要に応じて個別の事業計画を策定し、財源措置を講じて個別事業を展開する。
Translation by our Japanese based team
