BEIJING, June 9 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday promulgated the regulation on
reconstruction after the May 12 Wenchuan earthquake. It was the first of its
kind in the country, specially for a single massive quake, which led the
reconstruction work into a legal orbit.
Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday signed a State Council order to make it
effective. Xinhua was authorized to publish the regulation that became effective
on Monday.
The regulation, which set guidelines for reconstruction, provided an
important legal ground for the reconstruction work of various departments and
quake-hit regions, said a spokesman of the Legal Affairs Office of the State
Council, China's Cabinet.
He said the regulation was to ensure sound life, production, study and
working conditions in quake-affected regions.
Covering nine chapters and 80 stipulations, it included the transitional
settlement of quake-hit people, reconstruction planning, assessment, financing,
policies, supervision and management and legal obligations.
It also put forward special requirements on earthquake-resistance levels of
infrastructure construction in the quake-hit regions, including schools and
hospitals.
According to the regulation, related departments should properly arrange
the location of temporary housing and their supporting facilities and
distribution of funds and materials.
It also made clear governments at all levels should regularly publicize the
source, amount, distribution and use of relief capital and goods and receive
public supervision.
Audit organs should strengthen checking over the reconstruction capital and
goods and regularly make them open to the public.