Japan PM Abe orders proactive government role to clean up Fukushima nuclear plant

Members of a Fukushima prefecture panel inspect the construction site of the shore barrier near the No.1 and No.2 reactor building of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant , in this photo released by Kyodo on Aug 6, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS 
Members of a Fukushima prefecture panel inspect the construction site of the shore barrier near the No.1 and No.2 reactor building of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant , in this photo released by Kyodo on Aug 6, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS 

TOKYO (REUTERS) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told the industry ministry on Wednesday to take appropriate measures to tackle the "urgent issue" of radioactive water building up at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry needed to be more proactive role in dealing with the problems at the Fukushima Daiichi plant run by Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco), Mr Abe told reporters after attending a meeting of the government's task force on the nuclear disaster.

He stopped short of committing government funds to deal with the mounting levels of radioactive water.

Tepco has been widely castigated for its failure to protect the Fukushima plant, 220km north-east of Tokyo, from the massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami that led to the worst nuclear disaster in the world since Chernobyl and its inept response to the reactor meltdowns.

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