Japan to spend 220 billion yen to decontaminate Fukushima area

Tokyo - The Japanese government said Friday it would spend about 220 billion yen (2.84 billion dollars) to clean up residential areas in Fukushima prefecture contaminated by radiation in the wake of the nuclear crisis.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said the government would remove radiation-contaminated soil and rubble, Kyodo News reported.

Fujimura also said the government would maintain its initial plan to build a facility to store the tainted material in the prefecture before taking it to a final disposal site.

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station has leaked radioactive material since it was hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. About 87,000 people have been forced to leave their homes around the plant.

The announcement came after Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, who took office a week ago, travelled to the plant Thursday to view the damaged reactor buildings and meet workers at the six-reactor complex, 250 kilometres north-east of Tokyo.

Noda also held talks with Fukushima Governor Yuhei Sato and local leaders.//DPA