BEIJING, Sept 8, 2006 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- China's top economic planner has allocated central government funding of 220 million yuan (27.5 million U.S. dollars) for reconstruction in disaster-hit provinces.
The funds would be mainly used to rebuild schools, township and county hospitals, drinking water supply utilities and irrigation facilities destroyed by typhoons, heavy rain and earthquakes, said a circular issued Friday by the National Development and Reform Commission.
A post-disaster reconstruction guide will soon be delivered to the disaster-ravaged provinces of Fujian, Hunan, Jiangxi and Sichuan, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chongqing Municipality.
The commission has asked its branches to thoroughly survey the needs of disaster-hit areas and submit detailed reconstruction plans.
"Projects in dire need must be given top priority," said the circular.
Since May, a dozen provinces have been hit by natural disasters, with the south falling victim to typhoons and storms and the north ravaged by torrential rains and earthquakes.