The results of the region's work in the Year of Improvement were discussed in Vitebsk
How the northern region performed and what cleanup measures were implemented in 2025 became one of the key topics on the agenda of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee meeting, chaired by Alexander Rogozhnik.
Roman Koltsa, Chairman of the Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, reported on the results. He recalled that the past year was the first in the five-year plan for quality, and the main focus of work was on improving the land and tidying up settlements. Corresponding measures are carried out in the region annually. Social and transport infrastructure are developing, environmental safety issues are being addressed, and the waste management system is being developed, etc.
In 2025, settlements continued to be transformed: landscaping was actively carried out, and the street and road network was repaired. The demolition of vacant and dilapidated houses was carried out. Great attention was paid to ensuring the operation of drinking water supply systems, street lighting, as well as the construction of sports and children's playgrounds.
Among the priorities is the cleanup of territories of agricultural organizations and production facilities.
The northern region faced challenging tasks for 2025. For a number of indicators, it was necessary to achieve 10-15% more than in the previous year.
Roman Koltsa emphasized that the action plan was approved by the regional executive committee's decision No. 212 "On holding the Year of Improvement" and included 88 items. The measures have been completed, and adjustments were made during the year to increase the targets. In addition, the plan was supplemented.
More than 41 thousand trees and 29 thousand shrubs were planted in settlements, and 25 hectares of lawns were created and repaired. The normative level of greening of 40% has been achieved in all cities of the region.
Work was carried out on the sanitary cleaning of watercourses and reservoirs, and the repair and equipping of sports grounds. 118 small architectural forms were installed and repaired at such facilities, and 82 containers for waste collection were installed. 14 springs were equipped.
– Planned tasks for the liquidation of well plugging have been completed, – added Roman Koltsa. – Work on regulating the spread and numbers of Sosnowsky hogweed in an area of more than 4.5 thousand hectares, taking into account repeated work, has also been completed. Special attention in 2026 should be paid to combating Sosnowsky hogweed in the most infested areas: Braslavsky, Vitebsky, Gorodoksky, Orshansky, Tolochinsky, Ushachsky districts.
As for the forest fund, 18 new ecological trails have been created on its territory. Sanitary logging was carried out on 5.5 thousand hectares, and over 935 hectares were cleared of windbreak and storm-felled trees.
Good roads mean logistics, potential for the economic development of the region, safety and comfort for local residents and tourists. Last year, current repairs of republican roads with a length of 268 km were carried out in the region. The territory adjacent to the transport arteries was decorated with more than 80 small architectural forms. To maintain cleanliness and order along the roads, more than four dozen containers for waste collection were installed.
Eight passenger platforms and ten stopping points have been repaired at railway stations and stopping points.
Great attention is also paid to the waste management and secondary material resources system. Waste sorting complexes are being built and modernized, new methods and technologies for the use of MSW are being introduced, etc. According to data as of early January, 22 landfills for solid municipal waste are in operation in the region, 6 have been closed.
The Novopolotsk regional complex for MSW management has been commissioned, in connection with which the landfills for solid municipal waste in Novopolotsk and Ushachi are subject to closure.
In total, district and city executive committees in the region have developed and approved 23 municipal waste management schemes for all administrative-territorial units, including horticultural associations and garage cooperatives. More than 77% of horticultural associations registered in the Vitebsk region and about 84% of garage cooperatives have concluded waste removal agreements.
– In order to fulfill the instructions of the head of state, the Government, and to comply with waste management legislation, measures must be taken to develop and regularly update the schemes, as well as to ensure the conclusion of 100% of agreements, – Roman Kolts noted, adding that the most frequent violation of waste management legislation is their disposal outside of authorized places (1.3 thousand cases last year).
Work in each of these areas will continue.
The results of the work of the main control and analytical department were also discussed at the meeting.