Premier Wen directs relief work in Hunan

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Source: CCTV.com | 02-03-2008 13:12

Just three days after a visit to Hunan, Premier Wen Jiabao has headed back to the central province to oversee disaster relief work.

Just three days after a visit to Hunan, Premier Wen Jiabao has headed back to the central province to oversee disaster relief work.

After the briefing by local officials, Premier Wen asked them and the heads of government agencies accompanying him to divide into three groups to deal with transportation, electricity and civil affairs. Each team is to make specific plans for disaster relief.The first group to brief Wen Jiabao was the transportation group headed by Minister of Communications Li Shenlin.

Wen jiabao said, "The main target is to evacuate the stranded vehicles within two days, and if there is no specially harsh weather, to ensure the smooth flow. This is a fight against time."

Premier Wen said the first step is to keep breaking the ice on the roads, day and night. Guangdong and Hunan must keep the roads open to keep traffic going, and divert stranded vehicles to alternate routes whenever possible.

Wen jiabao said, "We should start persuading motorists tonight. Don't wait until tomorrow morning. Experience has taught us to act as soon as possible once it's decided. Divert as many as possible. Once we make up our mind, we can do it. It's working for the Beijing Zhuhai Expressway now and other roads can follow its pattern."

Next came the reports for restoring electricity supplies.

Wen jiabao said, "This is my idea. We not only get people from the army, but also transfer technicians from the national power grid and dispatch them to Northeast and North China and to Hubei in the south. All of them will be under one command centre. By doing so we can have the most advantageous army to solve the electricity problem in Hunan."

After hearing plans for settling civilians, Premier Wen said post-disaster plans should be made in advance, and they should include industry and agriculture. He said the nation will provide support, especially in material.

Wen jiabao said, "I have two suggestions. First, the command center contacts Guangdong and Beijing for help. This is a good idea, since the candles to Guizhou were transferred from Shanghai. Second, I agree that the latest relief fund shall be managed with an eye on the whole situation and act once the goals and measures are clear. "

At midnight Saturday, the groups were still working on specific plans and seeing to it that tasks were being carried out.

Editor:Zhang Ning