F. Abdulganiev: “The ecological orientation of Kazan and Tatarstan has been praised at the federal level”

(KZN.RU, January 24, Alsu Safina). The ecological orientation of Kazan and Tatarstan was highly appreciated at the federal level, said Farid Abdulganiev, the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the RT, at the session of the Kazan City Duma today. He reminded that Tatarstan was awarded a certificate for the active environmental policy of the region based on the official environmental rating of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia by the results of the Year of Ecology. In addition, Kazan took the second place in the ecological rating of 2017 among 103 regional centers and Russian cities with a population of more than 100 thousand people, compiled by the All-Russian People's Front jointly with the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia.

Kazan became the winner of the annual republican contest “Eco-leader” in the nomination “For Achievements in the Field of Environmental Protection in the City”.

Summing up the results of the Year of Ecology, F. Abdulganiev mentioned the issue of providing the population with quality drinking water. According to the minister, this is important, since Kazan is actively building up. The exploration of the fresh underground water deposit “Prigorodnoe” was conducted, water from which is planned to be supplied to residents of the micro-district M-14. “Such events were held for the first time since the 80s of the last century”, marked the minister.

As for the environmental situation in the city, the minister announced positive changes in terms of protection of atmospheric air. The number of recorded exceedances of the permissible content of pollutants in the atmosphere with the further growth of the industrial functional of Kazan has decreased. “In 2014, the automatic control system for atmospheric air pollution recorded 4876 excess, and by the end of 2017 – 245”, said F. Abdulganiev. According to him, this was the result of systematic preventive work. The list of the most effective measures of atmospheric air protection is being worked out with the production enterprises.

The Minister also noted that by the results of 2017, the total number of violations of environmental legislation decreased by 26% compared to 2016. In general, more than half a billion rubles was allocated to the environmental activities of Kazan from 2016 to 2017.

Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, thanked the Minister for the great joint work that was carried out in the Year of Ecology, together with the team of the Ministry, the concerned citizens, and public organizations and in interaction with city structures. “The President of the RT set a task to maintain a balance in the development of the economy and preserving the environment. The task of creating a comfortable urban environment is set for 2018. High responsibility for its implementation lies with the authorities and the citizens themselves”, said the head of the city.