Chiba Gov. Takeshi Numata said Monday he is open to reconsidering the size of a reclamation project that would bury some of the last remaining tidal flats in Tokyo Bay. However, he added that he thinks the prefecture has already cut the plan as much as it can.
The comments came on the heels of stiff criticism Environment Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi made Friday when she visited the wetlands off Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture. She urged a wholesale review of the project.
Chiba Prefecture has reduced the area to be filled in for the construction of a sewage treatment plant and other facilities to 101 hectares, or about one-seventh of its original planned size.
Spurred by the minister's comments, Numata said he wants to "review whether there is even a little room to revise the plan," but was not optimistic that it could be done.