The Future in Their Hands — Wenchuan's Recovery

By staff reporter JOSÉ GORDO

IT has been three years since a devastating earthquake struck Wenchuan, Sichuan Province, a catastrophe that took some 70,000 lives and left nearly 20,000 missing and millions homeless. The Chinese government set a three-year target to rebuild the area and to restore normality for those affected, pledging an investment of over RMB one trillion for the purpose. The ambitious recovery project is unprecedented both in the huge amount of investment proposed and the tight timescale imposed. It is aimed at providing earthquake victims not only with new homes, but also an economic environment conducive to improved living conditions and sustainable development. Not content with offering the people just any future, the project offers a better future.

Three years on, the time is ripe to check whether these goals have been met.

The rebuilt buildings in Shuimo still incorporate local architectural features.                                                                                                      José Gordo

Magnitudes of Improvement

In an interview on China Central Television last April, Sichuan’s Vice Governor Wei Hong said that about 94 percent of the planned reconstruction projects had been completed; and RMB 787.1 billion (about US $120 billion) was in place, representing 91 percent of the total planned investment. The whole rebuilding program would conclude this September. He added that in the first year 3.5 million quake-damaged homes were repaired; in the second year homes for 1.5 million rural families and 260,000 urban families were rebuilt or newly built. By mid-April more than 3,000 schools and over 2,000 hospitals had been built. Thanks to financial support from China’s central government and donations from both domestic and overseas sources, quake victims can purchase their new homes at very reasonable prices, ranging from RMB 20,000 to 50,000 (US $3,000 to 7,700) each. These homes would not be put on the open market, but would be allocated, after qualification verification, to victim families. Those who cannot pay in full sum can apply for bank loans under preferential terms and conditions.

Funds and loans for quake reconstruction were supervised and processed by designated institutions, not only as an anti-corruption precaution, but also to ensure the money would be concentrated on boosting local economic revitalization. Loans are available not only for buying new homes but also for establishing businesses.

Liu Yahuai is a 68-year-old farmer in Shouyangquan, a rebuilt neighborhood in Xinxing Town, Pengzhou City. Since the earthquake the homes of all the 325 families in his village have been built anew. With RMB 13,000 from his own pocket and a loan of RMB 20,000 from the bank, Liu built a two-story house with 20 rooms and a courtyard for his family of nine. In an enterprising move, he opened a country inn on the ground floor, which he believes will appeal to tourists from Chengdu to escape the summer heat, taste organic vegetables and get close to nature. On the subject of the future, Liu’s optimism is quite infectious.