The Upper House on Monday enacted the ¥1.998 trillion second supplementary budget for fiscal 2011. It includes ¥800 billion for reconstruction of areas devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, ¥545.5 billion in grants to local governments and ¥275.4 billion to cover expenses related to damage from the accidents at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
Budget allocations related to the nuclear plant accidents include compensation for victims of the accidents, a fund for health checks of Fukushima Prefecture residents and the disposal of soil contaminated with radioactive substances.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan and leaders of the ruling and opposition parties should be ashamed of having enacted the budget so late — 4½ months after the March 11 disasters.
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