Gov't plans nuclear compensation payments from around fall (JAPAN)

[AsahinaKimi]

TOKYO —

The government said Tuesday that it will start paying compensation to victims affected by the ongoing nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant by around the fall as plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co would strive to bring an end to the country’s worst nuclear crisis by around January at the latest.

In an updated version of Tokyo Electric’s road map toward settling the crisis, the utility said that it will stick to its initial plan to stabilize the crippled reactors by around October and January, although some changes were seen in the details based on recent findings that suggest a fuel meltdown in the No. 1 reactor.

Calling the people affected by the disaster ‘‘victims of the state’s policy’’ of promoting nuclear power, the government said in a paper issued Tuesday, ‘‘Even if the road toward restoration is long, the government will stand at the forefront and take responsibility in dealing with the issue to the very end.’‘

The announcement was made as one month has passed since TEPCO unveiled its road map on how to restore the plant’s troubled reactors, which lost its key cooling functions in the wake of the massive March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/govt-tepco-to-release-new-timetable-to-stabilize-nuclear-plant