Vitebsk region intends to allocate more than Br20 billion annually for the re-equipment of the Ministry of Emergency Situations units

October 12, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. Deputies of the Vitebsk Regional Council at an extraordinary session approved the regional program for equipping the emergency services and units of the Vitebsk region with modern fire-fighting, rescue equipment, gear and property for 2013-2017, according to a BELTA correspondent. The implementation of the program will enhance the effectiveness of emergency services and units in assisting citizens in emergency situations, reduce the severity of consequences, and decrease damage caused by fires and natural and man-made emergencies, explained Sergey Shevyako, First Deputy Head of the Vitebsk Regional Emergency Situations Department, who presented the program project to the deputies. Annually, the region experiences over 1.5 thousand accidents, fires, and other natural and man-made emergencies, resulting in about 200 deaths, the destruction of about 1 thousand buildings, and hundreds of vehicles. The annual direct damage from fires and emergencies amounts to about Br6-8 billion. In the first 9 months of the current year alone, emergency service employees prevented 748 buildings from catching fire and rescued 85 people from fires. However, out of 151 units of equipment in service with the services and units, funded by the regional budget, 110 have been in operation for over 15 years and are subject to write-off. To normalize the equipment situation for the services and units in the region, at least Br23 billion should be allocated annually from the regional budget for these purposes. This will allow for the phased equipping of the services and units to the required level and the replacement of worn-out equipment over five years. These funds will be used to purchase 14 fire tanker trucks equipped with fire-fighting equipment and rescue gear, a truck-mounted articulated boom, 11 fire ladder trucks, 7 special-purpose cars, 5 flatbed trucks, and components, assemblies, and other materials for the modernization of 25 existing fire tanker trucks. It is planned to primarily acquire products of domestic production. The program will be financed by the regional budget. As noted by Alexander Atyasov, Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies, the costs for the program implementation will be taken into account when forming the regional budget for 2013. -0-