Chengdu quickens pace of post-quake housing reconstruction

Photos

a motorcycle is parked in front of the building

see larger image

uploaded by CDpanda

• 

  uploaded by CDpanda | add comment

• 

  uploaded by CDpanda | add comment

• 

  uploaded by CDpanda | add comment

• 

  uploaded by CDpanda | add comment

• 

  uploaded by CDpanda | add comment

• 

  uploaded by CDpanda | add comment

Nearly 1 year after the deadly Sichuan Wenchuan earthquake, Chengdu, the provincial capital city that functions as the headquarters of the massive reconstruction operations, which was also affected by the earthquake, has made remarkable progress in the urban and rural housing reconstruction, an official from Chengdu Municipal Government said later last month.

Sun Ming, deputy director of the Chengdu Construction Committee revealed at a press conference that as of the end of April 19, 117,406 rural houses collapsed or severely damaged during the quake have started reconstructing, accounting for 80.12% in total, of which 539, 98 houses or 36.89% had completed rebuilding; in addition, the repair and reinforcement work of all 302,180 rural houses has been fulfilled. On the other hand, 20,290 urban houses collapsed or severely damaged during the quake have started rebuilding, accounting for 36.05%, and 60.98% or 89,405 urban houses have started repairing and reinforcing. 

Sun said all rural housing reconstruction was expected to be finished prior to the end of this September, while the urban housing reconstruction to be completed by the end of December.

Last year's devastating earthquake left 146,611 rural houses severely damaged and needed to rebuild, 302,180 rural houses needed to repair and reinforce; 56,277 urban houses severely damaged and needed to reconstruct, 146,605 houses needed repair and reinforcement, according to the statistics.

Despite Chengdu came through the quake almost unscathed, while Dujiangyan City, one of 4 hardest-hit areas in the provincial capital, suffered massive damage. It was closer to the epicenter.

Back then, people by the thousands were living in makeshift tents on the street. All stores were closed. Today, Dujiangyan is a study in contracts with perfectly re-decorated buildings, bustling shops and crowded restaurants.

In Qipan Village of Dujiangyan, most of the people who lost their homes in the disaster have moved into their new homes. 90% of the houses collapsed during last year's earthquake.

The new buildings ware constructed with the characteristics of development, diversity, harmony and compatibility. 

The new buildings are also featured to develop village tourism. It is learned some tourism and holiday management companies will rent houses from local farmers and change them into standard hotel rooms. The village inn plan will help with the marketing and of management of village tourism in Dujiangyan, and will greatly improve the local tourism infrastructure.

Chengdu plan to accelerate reconstruction of the quake zones, which also helps stimulate local economy, is a massive package involving infrastructure facilities, schools, medical institutions and many other welfare projects.

Workers from other provinces are involved in the reconstruction effort. Those provinces will allocate at least 1% of their annual fiscal revenue into the reconstruction projects for two years.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in the 2009 government work report that the central government would intensify and accelerate post-earthquake reconstruction and strive to basically reach the targets in two years that had originally been set for three, so that residents of the quake zone can begin to live a happier life as soon as possible.