Belarusian authorities’ new programme gains complete victory over radiation

• 22.07.2010, 14:00

The Belarusian authorities intend to develop areas contaminated as a result of the Chernobyl reactor accident by 2020.

It is planned to start economic and social development of the regions, including beef cattle and dairy breeding and seed farming. These aims were set in the of Chernobyl disaster recovery programme for 2011-2015 and for a period until 2020. The programme was approved by the Council of Ministers of Belarus yesterday, AFN news agency writes.

In particular, the authorities plan to attract highly skilled specialists to the contaminated regions, provide gas supply, construct water-supply facilities and build houses on preferential conditions, upgrade production facilities, develop beef cattle and dairy breeding and seed farming.

“As a result, this (the measures provided for by the programme) will allow to return the lands to normal functioning and people living here to normal activity. Radiation restrictions will be minimized,” emergency minister Baryeu said during the programme presentation.