acceleration. Due to these reasons, in accord with the “Package of measures for the acceleration of the rebuilding of housing and town development” established in March of 2013 and based on the Roadmap for Reconstruction of Housing, measures aiming for further acceleration will be implemented in parallel with speeding up reconstruction projects. Obstacles respective to victim municipalities will be individually resolved.

Although there are numerous issues faced in executing the reconstruction schedule, such as the lack of technical experts and technicians, shortages in materials including liquid concrete and etc., difficulties in acquiring bidders for projects and obtaining land, various measures will be implemented to resolve such issues and reconstruction projects will be carried out swiftly and efficiently.

## Section 2 The Steady Relief and Recovery of Infrastructures and Transportation

## (1) Outline

Aside from areas where buildings have been completely washed away or those in radiation hazard zones, the recovery of various public facilities under the jurisdiction of the MLIT have been mostly completed midway through 2011. Currently, activities have transitioned from emergency recovery to full-scale recovery and reconstruction; carrying out operation in accord to the project plans and roadmaps we have been creating since 2011, the progress of reconstruction is steadily advancing. We will continue our endeavors now and in the future to achieve the full recovery of north-eastern Japan as soon as possible while staying mindful of requests from disaster stricken areas.

## (2) Coastal Countermeasures

Of the areas under government construction (including the areas the government has undertaken disaster reconstruction) for the full-scale recovery of various sea embankments, the reconstruction for section having facilities vital to the relief and recovery of the Sendai Airport and areas with water treatment plants has been generally completed as of March 2013. For the sections remaining, we will sequentially proceed with reconstruction on adjacent portions of land, and strive to largely complete activities by March 2016. On that same date, we plan to roughly complete the reconstruction of breakwaters in bay entrances, which usually requires long periods of time, through careful planning in order to prevent major interference to urban development and industrial activities.

To the possible extent, while proceeding with construction, we are implementing structures that will tenaciously exert their capabilities even if they are struck by tsunamis. We also actively utilize recycled materials originating from disaster waste for embankment material in addition to staying wary of the surrounding landscape and natural environment during reconstruction.

## (3) Countermeasures in Waterways

For countermeasures in waterways, aside from 2 of the sections that were inflicted with immense damages, we have completed the full-scale recovery of damaged embankments under government jurisdiction to safety levels (including for subsidence) equal to those before the earthquake. We will continue efforts while conforming to reconstruction plans formulated by municipalities in areas with the possibility of being struck by tsunamis and promote the elevation of embankments based on the 5 year Focused Reconstruction Period. As we aim to complete this project by 2015, we will progressively effectuate earthquake-resistant measures in embankments, liquefaction countermeasures, and the automation and remote operation of floodgates.

## (4) Sewage System

Of the 120 treatment plants that were affected by disaster (excluding the 9 within the evacuation zone in Fukushima), 2 did not need to be operated due to there being no sewage produced. Besides the Sendai City Minami-gamo Purification Center, which suffered severe damages, the remaining 117 plants resumed normal levels of treatment by the end of 2012. In addition, of the 648km of damaged sewage pipes, 452km have been fully repaired as of end of 2012. We will continue efforts according to the reconstruction plans and aim for the prompt relief and recovery in parallel with implementing countermeasures towards earthquakes and tsunamis.