Belarus to allot more than Br3,3 trillion to mitigate Chernobyl consequences in 2006-2010

The fourth program to minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster aims to ensure real economic revival of the affected regions and to sustain their development. The national budget is expected to allocate Br3,174 trillion for these purposes, local budgets – Br160 billion, prime minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorskiy has stated at the parliamentary hearings today. As Sergei Sidorskiy stated, the program is socially oriented. In particular, 63 per cent of the program’s means will be allocated to finance benefits and compensations to the affected population, 20 per cent – to purchase mineral fertilizers to lime acid soils in the contaminated regions, 13 per cent are capital investment to extend gas supply networks and to finance the community development programs, consumer, social and culture services. In comparison with the previous program (2001-2005) this document is aimed at socioeconomic revival of the regions, while the previous program targeted the resettlement of people and radiation control over the food products. About Br600 billion (in 2001-2005 – Br346 billion) will be allocated to finance the production of ecologically “clean” food products, more than Br100 billion (in 2001-2005) – medical services.