Japan May Rent Off-Limits Land near Fukushima N-Plant

Tokyo, Aug. 22 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government is considering renting land plots near the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant as it plans to keep the areas off-limits for a long period of time, informed sources said Monday.
"We need to take various measures if residents cannot return home for long," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said in a press conference the same day.
"The possibility cannot be ruled out that there may be areas where residents cannot return for a long time. We feel really sorry for that," Edano said.
The government plans to continue banning access to areas primarily within 3 kilometers of the plant, operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. <9501>, due to very high radiation levels. It will finalize the decision after checking detailed radiation monitoring data and the schedule of decontamination work, the sources said.
Speaking to reporters Monday, Prime Minister Naoto Kan admitted that he is considering visiting Fukushima Prefecture on Saturday to give explanations to local government officials about the plan to keep some areas near the plant off-limits for a long time.
The central government introduced a 20-kilometer no-entry zone in April due to concern about exposure to radiation leaking from the plant, which was heavily damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
It plans to consider whether to lift the ban once the plant's crippled reactors are brought to a state of stability known as cold shutdown, but the 3-kilometer zone is likely to be an exception.