Rustam Minnikhanov takes part in joint meeting of Secretary of Russian Security Council and Presidential Envoy in Volga Federal District

On September 29, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov took part in a joint meeting of the Secretary of Russian Security Council and Presidential Envoy in Volga Federal District held in Ulyanovsk. Measures aimed at counteracting violations in the sphere of water management and improving water utilization efficiency, staffing support of defense industry enterprises were discussed at the meeting.

Opening the meeting, Mikhail Babich said that the role of water resources for Volga Federal District cannot be overstated. “Volga-Kama basin occupies a large part of the district. For example, 45 per cent of industrial and 50 per cent of agricultural production of Russia are along the Volga River.

High concentration of industrial facilities and residential areas resulted in 16 per cent of the total volume of harmful emissions and 17 per cent of sewage discharge into surface water sources in Volga Federal District. Shallowness that occurred due to the impact of natural and climatic factors and according to the experts’ estimates will last till 2029, is another problem mentioned by Mikhail Babich. The water level in the rivers of Volga Federal District that is falling down results in ecological and economic problems. In particular, the cargo carriage volume decreases, and their cost increases. The refusal of relatively cheap river transportations leads to financial costs of hundreds of millions of roubles.

Speaking about possible solutions to the problem Babich mentioned construction of a low-pressure transport hydrosystem in Bolshoe Kozino village of the Nizhni Novgorod Region. Implementation of the project is currently underway and its cost makes 41.5 bln roubles.

Also, Mikhail Babich focused on the most urgent problems connected with violations and crimes in the sphere of water management. Considering law enforcement practice and conducted analysis, he suggested developing proposals on improving legislation in this sphere.

Secretary of Russian Security Council Nikolay Patrushev noted that the solution of problems connected with sustainable economic development and ecological safety of the country depend on efficient use of water resources.

Patrushev paid attention to the problems of providing the population with quality drinking water, safety of hydraulic structures and fighting against crimes in the sphere of water management.