It should be disadvantageous for extracting enterprises to leave sites without contaminated soil remediation - Konstantin Tolkachev

UFA, 18 September 2017. /Bashinform News Agency, Galiya Nabieva/. The Chairman of the State Assembly of Bashkortostan Konstantin Tolkachev believes that the punishment for enterprises that extract minerals and do not conduct contaminated soil remediation can be made more severe.

At a regional training seminar with the secretaries of the primary branches of United Russia, among others, the issue of minerals and subsoil responsibility was discussed.

The head of one of the village councils in the Baimak District told about a problem that arises from the minerals extraction activities. According to him, such companies pay only when participate in bidding for a license. In cases of exploration and extraction of mineral resources, there is no payment to the budget and extra-budgetary funds, while some enterprises exceed the permitted volume of production, and also do not conduct remediation after the completion of works. This brings irreparable damage to nature, the official believes.

Konstantin Tolkachev expressed his opinion that much in this matter depended on the leadership of the districts. He also said that he would take the matter for further study.

Also, Konstantin Tolkachev reminded the participants of the seminar that the municipalities are entitled to submit legislative initiatives to the parliament of the republic, and urged them to participate in solving the problem.