More than Br22 billion was allocated in 2008 for the reconstruction of treatment facilities in the Vitebsk region

April 6, Vitebsk / Sergey Kochetov - BELTA /. More than Br22 billion was allocated in 2008 for the construction, reconstruction, and capital repair of treatment facilities in the Vitebsk region, the department of water resources of the regional committee for natural resources and environmental protection informed a BELTA correspondent. Financial resources were allocated from the republican nature protection fund. Last year, the expansion and reconstruction of treatment facilities and sewerage in the regional center were completed, and wastewater treatment facilities were built in the urban settlement of Sharkovshchina. In total, there are 235 wastewater treatment facilities and 138 outlets to water bodies operating in the region. Their total capacity is 188.9 million cubic meters per year. In recent years, treatment facilities in Braslav, Postavy, Shumilino, Senno, and Liozno have also been commissioned and reconstructed. In 2008, business entities of the region discharged 131 million cubic meters of wastewater into surface water bodies, a decrease of 1.3% compared to 2007. Despite the implemented water protection measures, a number of business entities violate environmental legislation regarding the pollution of water bodies with insufficiently treated wastewater. The main polluters are housing and communal services enterprises and agricultural organizations. In 2008, the regional committee for natural resources and environmental protection drew up over 950 protocols for violations of water legislation, fined almost 900 people for a total amount of about Br135 million, and filed 47 lawsuits for almost Br5 billion. -0-