ID :
177317
Fri, 04/22/2011 - 18:20
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/177317
The shortlink copeid
TEPCO must not be allowed to resume reactor operations: Fukushima gov
FUKUSHIMA (Kyodo) - Fukushima Gov. Yuhei Sato said Friday he will never allow Tokyo Electric Power Co. to resume operations at its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, crippled by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
''A resumption of plant operations must be impossible,'' Sato told Masataka Shimizu, president of Tokyo Electric, known as TEPCO, who apologized for the nuclear emergency during their meeting at the prefectural government office.
After the 15-minute meeting, Shimizu suggested to reporters he would step down at an appropriate time to take responsibility for the disaster.
Shimizu had previously tried twice to see the governor following the outbreak of the disaster. Sato turned him down both times, saying on one occasion, ''The anger and fear of people in this prefecture have reached the limit.''
During the meeting, Shimizu apologized for causing people in Fukushima Prefecture much trouble. He also promised to bring the troubled reactors under control as soon as possible so residents of areas around the plant can resume their normal lives.
Sato demanded that TEPCO pay damages not only to farmers and fishermen whose livelihoods have been severely hit by the nuclear crisis, but also to manufacturers and tourism industry operators.
The governor also urged Shimizu to provide better treatment and conditions for workers battling the crisis at the plant, calling them ''rising stars for Fukushima.''
After the meeting, Shimizu visited a shelter in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture. He kneeled down on the ground and begged for the forgiveness of people who have been forced to evacuate from their homes near the Fukushima power plant.
Shimizu was castigated by them, with one saying, ''I want you to let me return to my house.''
''Hey, Mr. President. I've lost my job. How can you take responsibility for it,'' a young man said to Shimizu in a loud voice, shouting, ''Please compensate me by all means.''
On Friday, Shimizu also met several mayors in Fukushima Prefecture.
''Agricultural and livestock industries flourish in our village. I ask for your long-term compensation for us as it will take time for our village to return to what it should be,'' Yuko Endo, mayor of Kawauchi in Fukushima, said to Shimizu.
Shimizu responded by saying with a stern look, ''I'll take what you say seriously.''
Later in the day, Shimizu visited a high school in Saitama Prefecture where evacuees from Futaba in Fukushima are staying, and met the mayor of the town, which hosts the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex.
Shimizu was hospitalized in late March for hypertension and dizziness as the company struggled to contain the nuclear crisis.
On March 30, TEPCO Chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata told a news conference that the company will decommission four of the six reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. But he did not make clear how to handle the remaining two reactors.
''A resumption of plant operations must be impossible,'' Sato told Masataka Shimizu, president of Tokyo Electric, known as TEPCO, who apologized for the nuclear emergency during their meeting at the prefectural government office.
After the 15-minute meeting, Shimizu suggested to reporters he would step down at an appropriate time to take responsibility for the disaster.
Shimizu had previously tried twice to see the governor following the outbreak of the disaster. Sato turned him down both times, saying on one occasion, ''The anger and fear of people in this prefecture have reached the limit.''
During the meeting, Shimizu apologized for causing people in Fukushima Prefecture much trouble. He also promised to bring the troubled reactors under control as soon as possible so residents of areas around the plant can resume their normal lives.
Sato demanded that TEPCO pay damages not only to farmers and fishermen whose livelihoods have been severely hit by the nuclear crisis, but also to manufacturers and tourism industry operators.
The governor also urged Shimizu to provide better treatment and conditions for workers battling the crisis at the plant, calling them ''rising stars for Fukushima.''
After the meeting, Shimizu visited a shelter in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture. He kneeled down on the ground and begged for the forgiveness of people who have been forced to evacuate from their homes near the Fukushima power plant.
Shimizu was castigated by them, with one saying, ''I want you to let me return to my house.''
''Hey, Mr. President. I've lost my job. How can you take responsibility for it,'' a young man said to Shimizu in a loud voice, shouting, ''Please compensate me by all means.''
On Friday, Shimizu also met several mayors in Fukushima Prefecture.
''Agricultural and livestock industries flourish in our village. I ask for your long-term compensation for us as it will take time for our village to return to what it should be,'' Yuko Endo, mayor of Kawauchi in Fukushima, said to Shimizu.
Shimizu responded by saying with a stern look, ''I'll take what you say seriously.''
Later in the day, Shimizu visited a high school in Saitama Prefecture where evacuees from Futaba in Fukushima are staying, and met the mayor of the town, which hosts the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex.
Shimizu was hospitalized in late March for hypertension and dizziness as the company struggled to contain the nuclear crisis.
On March 30, TEPCO Chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata told a news conference that the company will decommission four of the six reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. But he did not make clear how to handle the remaining two reactors.
