"Blooming Kazan" program to be implemented in Tatarstan capital in 2014

(KZN.RU, March 3, Renat Shirmanov). The greening and beautification of the city remains one of our top priorities in the management of the capital of Tatarstan. The "Blooming Kazan" program will be implemented in 2014. This was stated by Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin at today's 31st City Duma session in a report on the activities of the past year.

Ilsur Metshin said that the past year was marked in Kazan by the Universiade – the biggest international sporting event. In preparation for the Games the urban infrastructure had been substantially improved.

"From the first days of preparation for the Universiade, we emphasized that to hold the competitions at a high level was not an end in itself. The main thing was to improve the quality of life of Kazan residents. Among the main promises we gave under the "Five Year Health Plan" was the greening of Kazan," said the Mayor.

Ilsur Metshin stressed that, thanks to the ambitious "The Green Record" program, 2,656 areas of the city, including every third yard, have been improved. In less than two years, 100,000 new trees, with survival rate of 98%, were planted in the capital of Tatarstan.

"The main emphasis was placed on the creation of a green shield along the most air polluted streets.  And today, while planning our work, we have to think about planting large areas, developing new parks and gardens that should appear in the city every year. Our streets have been decorated with 5,000,000 flowers, 1,200 flower pots and miles of turf," said the Mayor of Kazan.

All this work made the improved appearance of the city one of the main legacies of the Universiade, as evidenced by numerous social surveys.

"I take this opportunity to thank all the city administrators and all the citizens who participated in "The Green Record" project. Let's be honest, in the coming years we can hardly afford such volumes of construction of roads and interchanges. But I think we won't be worth much if we fail to keep the bar high on city cleanliness, beauty and maintenance," said Ilsur Metshin.

"This project and the work on the improvement of the city in preparation for the Universiade inspired us to search for new solutions. One such project has the working title of "Blooming Kazan." We call upon all heads of municipal enterprises and organizations and entrepreneurs to decorate the facades and entrances to their offices and stores with flower vases. More than five hundred concerned citizens have already responded to this call," concluded the Mayor of Kazan.