National Project “Ecology” in the Regions: the Future Look of the Baikal Natural Territory will be Determined by its Residents

A. Zakrevsky, Project Office Manager, reported on the implementation of measures under the federal project until the end of 2019 and 2024 (the time of its completion). According to him, in 2019 the planned funding for the federal project “Preservation of Lake Baikal” is 4,988.4 million rubles, including 4,029.9 million rubles from the federal budget.

In the course the implementation of this federal project, it is necessary to achieve a 28.2% reduction in the volume of wastewater discharge into Lake Baikal and other water bodies of the BNT by 2024. Moreover, this volume should be reduced by 3.2% as early as 2019. For 2019, a reconstruction of the waste water treatment facilities of Ulan-Ude and Irkutsk is scheduled.

The Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia has also concluded an agreement to grant the Republic of Buryatia a subsidy from the federal budget for co-financing expenditure obligations of this federal subject of the Russian Federation related to the implementation of measures aimed at reducing the total area of territories subjected to high and extremely high pollution that affect Lake Baikal.

In the framework of the federal project, by 2024, the total area of territories subjected to high and extremely high pollution and affecting Lake Baikal shall be reduced to zero. The federal project also envisages the release of 753 million larvae, fry and juvenile fish, including 100.2 million individuals in 2019.

In order to increase the expanse of engineering protection structures, an agreement was concluded with the Irkutsk Region. Between 2019 and 2021, works for protecting the shore of Lake Baikal will be carried out within the shore front of Listvyanka Settlement.

An important area of the federal project is establishing of state environmental monitoring in the Baikal Natural Territory. By 2024, the coverage shall be 93%, including 78% in 2019. In addition, under the federal project, it is planned to implement measures aimed at improving and developing the infrastructure needed to preserve the unique ecosystem of Lake Baikal.

Head of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia stressed the need for public expert discussions during the implementation of the activities within the framework of the national project “Ecology” in the region. “We want to see the Baikal Natural Territory in all its pristine purity and beauty. The ministry’s task is to help restore land and heal the accumulated environmental damage in this area. Only residents of the Irkutsk Region and the Republic of Buryatia may decide and suggest what their motherland should look like. They should determine the future prospects for the development of Lake Baikal,” said Dmitry Kobylkin.

Source: Press service of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment of the Russian Federation

Опубликовано: 25 June 2019