OREANDA-NEWS. April 26, 2012. Most of the settlements that were suffered by the Chernobyl disaster may operate without restrictions under a radiation factor. In these areas there have considerably been decreased radioactive environmental contamination and improved radiological situation. This was informed by the Chairman of the State Agency of Ukraine for the Exclusion Zone management, Volodymyr Kholosha during a briefing at the Government House.

According to him, currently toward the zones of radioactive contamination have been classified 2293 settlements in 12 regions of Ukraine.

Volodymyr Kholosha noted that in the years after the Chernobyl disaster, natural processes as well as countermeasures aimed at reducing radiation environmental contamination have led to the improvement of the radiological situation. Thus, according to the results of dosimetric certification, conducted last year there were discovered that most of these settlements can function without restriction under the radiation factor. "Fortunately, the situation shows that in most of these settlements it is possible to live without any restrictions under the radiation factor and to be deal with socio-economic development of these areas. This is positive news," said Volodymyr Kholosha. He has also informed that within the dosimetric certification there were examined 2155 settlements of the regions, territories of which have radioactively been contaminated as a result the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

At the same time, he said that the Agency plans to develop a special program that determines the state policy in the field of socio-economic development of the territories indicated in: "Given the orders of the Verkhovna Rada, the President and the Government in the near future we develop the additional national program of social and economic development for these areas."

Meanwhile, Volodymyr Kholosha emphasized that in this context are not talking about the so-called Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. He said that on the territory of this area is still, the law prohibits residence. Chairman of the Agency also noted that the Government considers the concept of activities in the exclusion zone, which includes its use for national economic needs.