Members of Human Rights Council under President RF assess environmental situation in Sibay

UFA, 26 March 2019. /Bashinform News Agency, Ksenia Kalinina/ translated by Tatiana Aksyutina/.

In the city of Sibay, within the framework of the 29th exit session, representatives of the Presidential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights conduct their work. Their goal is to provide an independent expert assessment of the current ecological situation and the measures taken to eliminate oxidation foci in a quarry.

On March 25, members of the Council met with civil society activists in the city’s administration. Local residents told them about their vision of the situation and addressed their concerns. Then the members of the Council met with representatives of the administration, the State Committee RB for Emergencies, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Bashkortostan, a branch of the Ural Mining Plant.

Sergey Lopukhov, Chief of the Operational Headquarters, Deputy Chairman of the State RB for Emergencies, spoke about the current environmental situation, the organization of atmospheric air quality observations in the city.

“Measurements are made by three laboratories ten times during the day, including two times at night. In addition to the continuous monitoring of the state of the air at the points located at the border of the sanitary protection zone, air samples are taken on applications received from citizens. Everyone is invited to participate in the measurements to make sure that they are objective, ”he said.

Grigory Rudoy, Director of Mining Production of UMMC-Holding LLC, informed about the progress in localization and liquidation of oxidative processes in the quarry. According to him, the flooding of the pit is carried out on schedule, in accordance with the project developed by the “Uralmekhanobr” institute, and will be completed tomorrow, March 26.

The head of the administration of Sibay, Rustem Afzalov, focused on two key areas of work - organizing public awareness and carrying out measures to improve the health of citizens.

“Today, 1,094 Sybay residents have received health resorts treatment - 500 children had a rest at the “Mechta” sanatorium in Evpatoria, and another 594 people went to health centers in the region. Republican doctors gave professional consultations to 18,776 people, which was almost one-third of Sibay’s population. Rehabilitation procedures continue”, said the head of the city.

Representatives of the Council, together with social activists of Sibay, visited the Central City Hospital and one of the temporary accommodation centers, organized at Sibay Institute of Bashkir State University. On March 26, their work in Sibay will be continued: a visit to the Sibay open-pit mine, the Sibay branch of Ural Mining Plant JSC is planned, along with representatives of the enterprise and public figures. In addition, a meeting will be held with the residents of the city.