YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin demanded from Yury Chaika,
Public Prosecutor General, to bring to justice the officials
whose negligence and lack of action led to flooding of three
settlements in the Krymsk district. Local residents warned
the officials and prosecutors about improper condition of
a dam of one water reservoirs, but received no reply. In the
night of July 6-7 the dam burst, and the flow of water went
to the villages.
On July 9 Mitrokhin along with the activists of the party
and the North Caucasus Environmental Watch held a public inspection
of the area around Armyansky and Sheptalsky villages and Novoukrainsky
town.
These settlements are located a few kilometers from Krymsk,
by the Psyzh river. There is a lake in the upper stream of
the river. Several years ago a company Private Hunters Club
which was renting the lake built a dam there: without any
documentation, carelessly by simply ramming down the ground.
In the night of July 6-7 the dam burst under the pressure
of the water coming from the mountains, the water from the
lake overflowed the river bed, and the flow went to the villages.
The villages were flooded, the number of victims was considerably
lower than in Krymsk, but housing there is either severely
damaged or completely destroyed.
As early as on March 28 E.Andruhovich, resident of Armyansky
village, applied to the Department of Natural Resources of
the State Environmental Supervision of the Krasnodar Territory.
He complained about improper exploitation of the forest lake,
which created a threat of flooding of private lands in a flood
prone period. A similar application was sent to Public Prosecutor
of the Krasnodar Territory.
In a reply dated May 3 the Department of Natural Resources
pointed out at the absence of violations in the exploitation
of lake. The letter stated that the company renting the lake
carried out works on clearing the bowl of the reservoir,
restoration of the dam and equipment of the overflow, which
provides a balanced discharge of water in the flood period."
The officials also indicated that in 2012 the company planned
to strengthen the earthen dam with concrete slabs.
On May 25, V.Artemyenko, Deputy Prosecutor of the Krymsk
district Prosecutor's Office dismissed Andrukhovych application
considering his appeal ungrounded.
There is every reason to believe that violations of the
water protection laws in exploitation of the object, as well
as refuse of the authorities to respond to the appeal contributed
to the catastrophe, runs Mitrokhins statement to Public
Prosecutor General.
According to Mitrokhin, a prosecutors audit must be held
on the facts the authorities negligence and inaction leading
to a catastrophe and those responsible for such negligence
must be brought to justice.
See also:
Yugeny
Vitishko: We are working 24 hours a day. We have made bunks
and sleep in turn. Yugeny
Vitishko about the Aid Centre in Krymsk. Special for the YABLOKO
web-site. July 10, 2012
YABLOKOs Aid
Centre for the victims of the flood in the southern Russia
keeps working in Krymsk. Press Release, July 10, 2012.
Flood victims left
without help in Krymsk held a spontaneous rally. Press Relese,
July 9, 2011
YABLOKO leader arrived
in Krymsk with a truck of humanitarian aid. Press Release,
July 9, 2012.
Criminal negligence
of officials led to deaths of people in the Krimskiy district,
the Krasnodar Area
Statement by YABLOKO Chairman. July 7, 2012.
Human
Rights
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