OREANDA-NEWS. Within 2 days on the eve of the 6th session of the Zaporozhye regional council public ecological hearings were held on the initiative of the deputies.

Within 2 days on the eve of the 6th session of the Zaporozhye regional council public ecological hearings were held on the initiative of the deputies, which were dedicated to the solution of the sore ecological problems of the region. Representatives of the regional and city authorities, large metallurgical enterprises, social organizations, scientists, ecologists, doctors took part in the discussions.

The main agenda item was “The Programme on overcoming the ecological crisis” to be completed by 2010. The deputies are turning down the proposals of the enterprises to extend the terms of the fulfillment of the Programme measures.

The metallurgists insist that the aspects of the Programme, adopted in the 90-ies of the last century, are out of date today. Hence the accusations to the industrial giants, which seem to ignore the environment problems, are groundless. During functioning of the Programme only Zaporizhstal has allocated 3.5 billion UAH for production modernization. Our Works has fulfilled the Programme in money equivalent.

Alexander Putnoki, First Deputy Chairman of the Board - Technical Director of Zaporizhstal JSC, stated, that with the increase of production 1.5-2 times, the Works reduces certain emissions.

The local authorities, fighting for preservation of environment, are somewhat to blame for the absence of a converter shop at Zaporizhstal JSC, quoted Alexander Putnoki. For several years they have been putting off confirmation of the technical and economic feasibility study of the project and only in 2007 a decision was taken.

“The deputies of the regional council,” - stated Alexander Rabtsun, Financial Director of Zaporizhstal JSC, - "are not in a hurry to come to meet the Works’ labour collectives and due to unknown reasons avoid a dialogue with metallurgical enterprises. Among other things the regional council is not giving a positive solution to the Works’ proposal regarding extension of converter shop construction terms and modernization of the sintering plant by 2015. Due to this Zaporizhstal JSC will have to go on paying large economical penalties, the lion’s share of which goes to Kiev. Kopecks remain in Zaporozhye. Herein the construction of the converter shop will cost the Works 10 billion UAH.

“It would have been more wise and logic,” - said the chairman of the city council of veterans, Victor Korolenko, - “to meet the proposals of the metallurgists. This would have been better for the improvement of the ecological situation in the city too”.

In addition, deputy chairman of the regional council, Alexander Klepakov, summing up the hearings, tried to drag through a clause in the draft resolution concerning the fact that the people do not support the metallurgists’ proposals but the hearings participants did not agree with him.

Judging from the mood of the majority of the regional council deputies they do not want to listen to the logic reasons of the labour collectives. But will the ecological situation in Zaporozhye improve if we move on the way of confrontation? This is highly questionable.