被災地集団移転 官民の知恵と能力を結集せよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 1, 2012)
Use private sector to carry out mass relocation projects
被災地集団移転　官民の知恵と能力を結集せよ（7月31日付・読売社説）

Time is of the essence in carrying out reconstruction projects in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake. The greater the delay in reconstruction, the more likely residents will abandon their hometowns and move elsewhere.
　東日本大震災の復興事業は時間との闘いでもある。復興が遅れるほど、故郷を見限り、離れる住民が増えてしまう。

It is essential to offer disaster victims hope for the future so they will want to continue living in their local communities. They could, for example, be presented a timetable for each reconstruction project.
　事業別に工程表を示すことなどで、被災者が将来に希望を持って地元に住み続けるようにすることが大切だ。

More than 16 months after the March 11, 2011, disaster, projects aimed at the mass relocation of residences as a disaster prevention measure will finally begin in tsunami-hit areas. On Sunday, residential land development will start in areas to which six communities in Iwanuma, Miyagi Prefecture, will be relocated. This project has shown the most progress.
　大震災から１年４か月以上を経て、津波被災地での防災集団移転促進事業がようやく動き出す。最も進捗(しんちょく)が見られる宮城県岩沼市の６集落の移転事業で、移転先の宅地造成が８月５日に始まる。

According to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey conducted in early July, among about 26,000 households in 26 cities, towns and villages in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures that are subject to relocation, only 22 percent have received the central government's approval for subsidized relocation projects.
　読売新聞の７月上旬の調査によると、岩手、宮城、福島３県の２６市町村で約２万６０００戸が集団移転の対象だが、このうち政府の同意を取り付け、事業化が決まったのは２２％にとどまっている。

This is because it takes time to build a consensus among residents and procedures to secure relocation sites are delayed due to shortages of local government technical staff.
　住民の合意形成に時間を要したり、自治体の技術系職員の不足から移転先の土地確保などの手続きが遅れたりしているためだ。

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Large amount of funds unused

Of about 15 trillion yen in reconstruction-related budget in fiscal 2011, 6 trillion yen has not been used. This symbolizes the delay in reconstruction projects.
　昨年度の復興関連予算約１５兆円のうち６兆円が未消化なのも、復興事業の遅れを象徴している。

The damage caused by last year's disaster was far greater than in past natural disasters.
　過去の災害と比べて、今回は被害の規模がはるかに大きい。

After the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake in 2004, it took about two years to relocate 115 households. This time, more than 200 times that number of households have to be relocated.
　集団移転事業は、新潟県中越地震の際、１１５戸で約２年を要したのに対し、今回は、その２００倍以上が対象になる。

In the wake of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, 20 districts with an average 12.8 hectares each were subject to land readjustment projects. That compares with 58 districts and an average of 90 hectares this time.
　土地区画整理事業も、阪神大震災では２０地区、平均１２・８ヘクタールだったのに対し、今回は５８地区、平均９０ヘクタールに上っている。

Once massive residential land development and housing construction projects go into full swing in disaster-hit areas in the Tohoku region, securing sufficient workers and materials will become difficult. This could prolong the projects and increase costs.
　今後、東北の被災地で、膨大な宅地造成や住宅建設の事業が本格化すれば、作業員や資材の確保が困難になり、事業がより長引き、費用も膨らみかねない。

Deregulation also should be quickly implemented and relevant guidelines drawn up to simplify procedures to allow forest reserve development necessary for residential land creation and to carry out research into the possibility cultural property may be buried on land selected for relocation.
　宅地造成に必要な保安林の開発許可や埋蔵文化財調査などの作業を簡素化するため、規制緩和や指針策定を急ぐことが必要だ。

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More support staff needed

Many small localities in coastal areas of the Tohoku region suffer from depopulation. Even if large amounts of funds are used to relocate residences, there is a possibility this may create more underpopulated areas as well as genkai shuraku--depopulated communities in which more than half the residents are 65 or older.
　東北の沿岸部は、過疎に悩む小規模自治体が少なくない。多額の予算を費やして集団移転しても、新たな過疎地や限界集落を作り出す可能性がある。

Discussions are needed to work out comprehensive measures, including how to view the future of areas where residences are relocated.
移転先の将来像をどう描くのか、総合的な対策の検討が求められる。

To accelerate mass relocation projects, it is critical to increase the number of responsible employees at local governments. Though it will require patience, it is important to increase the number of support staff from the central government as well as city, town and village governments in other parts of the country. We think retired employees should be rehired and sent to local governments in disaster-hit areas.
　集団移転の作業を加速するには自治体の担当職員の数を増やすことが欠かせない。地道ながら、全国の市町村や政府が派遣する応援職員をさらに積み増すことが重要だ。ＯＢ職員を積極的に再任用し、派遣してはどうか。

The governments of Higashi-Matsushima and Onagawa in Miyagi Prefecture plan to implement town development projects under the design-build system in which the design and order placement normally carried out by local governments will be entrusted to general contractors and consulting companies.
　宮城県東松島市や女川町では、本来は自治体が行う設計・発注業務もゼネコンやコンサルタント会社に委任する設計・施工一括発注方式の町づくり事業を予定している。

Relocation projects should be accelerated by making the best use of the wisdom and capability of the private sector.
民間の知恵や能力を最大限活用し、事業を加速させたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 31, 2012)
（2012年7月31日01時57分  読売新聞）