Today, the head of the environmental protection agency Andrei Khudyk held a reception for citizens, including individual entrepreneurs, their representatives, and representatives of legal entities in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.
In the first part of the reception, the Minister considered issues of compliance with legislation on flora. Thus, the head of the Ministry of Natural Resources was approached by the chairman and a member of the board of one of the capital’s homeowners’ associations due to disagreement with the decision of the Minsk City Committee of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.
In 2023, the Minsk City Committee for the Protection of Natural Resources and Environment established the fact of illegal removal of trees on the territory of this partnership, as well as the fact of damage to trees during their pruning. As a result, the capital’s territorial body of the Ministry of Natural Resources filed claims for compensation for damage caused to the environment. Based on the facts of illegal removal and damage to trees during pruning, administrative offense reports were drawn up against the guilty persons under Part 3 of Article 16.17 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses.
Summarizing the information provided by the applicants, Andrey Khudyk noted that the Ministry of Natural Resources is responsible for monitoring compliance with environmental legislation. “Our employees strictly follow the letter of the law. And if the legislation is violated, and the relevant facts are recorded, then the guilty parties are obliged to answer for it,” he emphasized. “Trees in populated areas play a special role, primarily for the health of our citizens – they absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen, reduce dust and gas pollution in the air, as well as the level of urban noise. And this is only part of the benefits. By damaging the flora in cities, we primarily harm ourselves.”
Another topic considered during the reception was the appeal of a representative of Square-Plus LLC regarding the violation of waste management legislation by its tenant. The applicant was given comprehensive explanations and recommendations in accordance with the current environmental legislation.
The citizens’ reception ended with a discussion of the possibility of supporting an eco-initiative for improvement and landscaping – the corresponding proposal to the head of the Ministry of Natural Resources was received from representatives of Avtoideya LLC.
Andrei Khudyk thanked those who contacted him for their eco-active position and expressed their willingness to cooperate. “The desire of citizens, enterprises and organizations to participate in the implementation of state environmental policy and to contribute to the preservation of Belarusian nature is always supported and will be supported by our department,” the Minister assured.
