Ildar Khalikov: Development of Tatarstan is impossible without realization of measures on rehabilitation of water basins

On May 15, at a round-table session of Volga interregional environmental prosecutor's office “Urgent problems of ensuring ecological safety of water resources in Volga basin, Tatarstan Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov said that development of the republic is impossible without realization of measures on rehabilitation of water basins.

Russian Deputy Prosecutor General Sergey Zaitsev, Volga interregional environmental prosecutor Veniamin Selifanov, prosecutors of Russian regions, and representatives of state authorities took part in the event.

Welcoming the audience, Khalikov noted that Tatarstan is one of the biggest industrial regions in Russia, and high level of economic development always affects environment. He continued that state and public institutions are working in the republic to reveal problems and find solutions. In particular, the state information system “Public control” where citizens inform on environmental pollution and control decisions made by authorities to solve these problems.

“With the support of Federal Agency of Water Resources problems of fixing hydraulic engineering structures are being solved. Operation of Kuibyshev and Nizhnekamsk water storage basins is very important for us,” Khalikov said. “I want to add that due to support of Federal Agency of Water Resources the optimum level of Kuibyshev basin was provided during the 1st FINA High Diving World Cup in August 2014,” he continued.
The prime minister reminded that the World Aquatics Championship will be held in Kazan on July 24, 2015. 188 countries have now confirmed their participation in this biggest world sports event.

Tatarstan President made a decision to announce 2016 the year of water protection areas of Volga and Kama rivers. A plan of actions on protection of conservation areas, improvement of riverside territories, and providing comfortable conditions for the development of water protection areas is being developed.

Khalikov continued that the Volga interregional environmental prosecutor's office effectively fulfilling its authorities in Tatarstan.

Veniamin Selifanov said that 40 per cent of population of Russia lives in the Volga region, there are 70 per cent of chemical, oil-refining, and petrochemical enterprises in the region, 20 per cent of all waste water in Russia is disposed into the Volga basin.