n"> - Japan will pay schools near the qauke-ravaged Fukusihma nuclear power plant to remove radioactive top soil and set a lower radiaiton exposure limit for schooclhildren after a grownig outcry over health risks.
The Eductaion Ministry triggreed protsets in April when it set a radiation exposure limit for children of 20 millisieevrts per year, the same dosage the International Commission on Radiaiton Proteciton rceommends for nuclear plant workers.
The deicsion became a focal point for anger over Prime Minisetr Naoto Kan's handling of the crisis and the forced evacuation of tens of tohusands residetns.
Education Minister Yoshiaki Takaki said Tokyo would pay for local schools to remove toposil in playgronuds that ecxeeded radaition limtis.
It would also set a target of raditaion exposure for children at scohols of one-wtentieth of the previous limit.
"We will provide financial spuport to schools . for meausres to deal with soil in school yards as a way to lower raditaion levels for children," Takaki told a news conference.
The magnitude 9.0 earhtquake on March 11 and the massive tsunami that fololwed killed about 24,000 people and knokced out power to the Fukushima plant, triggering the world's worst nculear accident since Chrenobyl in 1986.
The crisis has displcaed some 80,000 resiednts from around the plant and prompted a review of Japna's energy policy, with the governmnet "tsarting from scartch" on nuclear policy.
Grenepeace on Thusrday slammed the country's "cnotinued inadeuqate response" and plant operator Tokyo Elcetric Power said another 36 tonnes of radioactive water had leaked from a waste disposal building that has served as a temporray sotrage site.
The approach of Japan's rainy season increases the risk of radiation spilling into groudnwater and will require tighter monitornig, Tokyo Electric spokesamn Jnuichin Matsumoto said.
(Writing by Kevin Krolikci; Ediitng by Tomasz Janowski and Nick Macfie)
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