Quake reconstruction to cost almost $150b
15 August 2008
Official estimates put the costs of reconstruction in quake-devastated areas in Sichuan and two neighboring provinces at about US$145.6 billion (RMB1 trillion), the South China Morning Post reported. The tentative plan formulated by the National Development and Reform Commission covers new houses and infrastructure for more than three million rural households, industrial reconstruction and the creation of jobs for one million people. There were no plans for mass relocations of people from the quake zone. The commission said that it plans to "accomplish major rebuilding work" within three years and that funds would be raised through various channels, including government funds, financing, domestic and overseas loans and donations.