Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Boris Efremov emphasized the technological and high-quality execution of work to combat Sosnowsky's hogweed
Assessing the situation in the region, the Chairman of the Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Viktor Galanov, noted that the water quality in most rivers and lakes is gradually improving, the air has become cleaner, and the number of industrial accidents with severe environmental consequences has decreased. Over the past three years, 3.1 million rubles have been allocated for the implementation of environmental protection measures.
Emissions are decreasing
During the reporting period, emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere from stationary and mobile sources decreased by 11.1 thousand tons – the target indicator was overfulfilled by two times. The reduction in emissions was ensured by an increase in the number of vehicles of high environmental classes and the implementation of measures for re-equipment, improvement, and optimization of technological processes at 212 production facilities.
The state of atmospheric air in Vitebsk, Polotsk, and Novopolotsk, where automatic stations for continuous monitoring of priority pollutants are installed, is generally assessed as very good, good, and moderate. The proportion of periods with satisfactory and poor quality is insignificant. At the same time, it is necessary to complete the ongoing measures to reduce air pollution by sulfur dioxide at the industrial hub of Novopolotsk. Work should also continue on modernizing housing and communal services boiler houses, introducing technologies for involving renewable energy sources in the energy balance, and expanding the use of electric transport.
Attention to treatment facilities
The state program provides for a gradual reduction in the discharge of insufficiently treated wastewater into surface water bodies. Over the past four years, volumes have decreased from 123 thousand cubic meters to 20 thousand cubic meters. Repair and reconstruction of municipal treatment facilities have been carried out in Orsha, Dokshitsy, Lepel, Postavy, and work continues at similar facilities in Vitebsk and Braslav. Sewer networks and new treatment facilities have been built in Verkhnedvinsk and Glubokoye.
However, one of the pressing problems is the high wear and tear of treatment facilities at livestock complexes. Over the past 2.5 years, 11 cases of environmental pollution by agricultural facilities have been recorded.
764 unused water intake wells are also considered potential sources of groundwater pollution. Over the past three years, remedial grouting has been carried out at 186 facilities.
Hazardous Pesticides
A particular problem is the more than 540 tons of unusable pesticides, remaining from Soviet times, stored in 20 warehouses. This year, the international technical assistance project "Sustainable Management of Persistent Organic Pollutants and Chemicals" worth 8 million euros has begun implementation in our country. It provides for the export of unusable pesticides outside of Belarus for safe disposal. A working meeting was held at the regional executive committee, and four warehouses in Polotsk, Tolochin, Liozno, and Postavy districts were identified as logistics centers for consolidating the export of hazardous substances. In the near future, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection will hold a tender to select a service provider. District executive committees need to identify the balance holders of unusable pesticides as soon as possible and organize their interaction with the contractor.
Restless Hogweed
Last year's inventory revealed over 4,000 patches of Sosnowsky's hogweed covering an area of more than 3.9 thousand hectares. This year, over 1.2 million rubles have been allocated from local budgets to combat the invasive plant. As of June 24, 90% of the affected areas have been initially treated, primarily using chemical methods. This year, it is planned to bring 160 hectares of land affected by the plant back into economic circulation.
Canadian goldenrod also raises concerns among ecologists, having been identified on 241 hectares. The most affected districts are Orsha and Vitebsk, as well as the regional center.
Summing up, the deputy chairman of the regional executive committee, Boris Efremov, who chaired the meeting, emphasized the importance of conducting the work to combat Sosnowsky's hogweed with advanced technology and high quality. It is also necessary to approach the implementation of the project for the disposal of unsuitable pesticides in an organized manner to rid the Vitebsk region of hazardous substances.
"Vitebskiye Vesti", photos from open sources.