"In recent years, the State has channelled almost 130 million euro in total to Ida-Viru County as environmental investments. For example, thanks to Ahtme water treatment plant which will start operation in full capacity in the coming weeks, drinking water will finally be of a normal quality for 80,000 people soon," Keit Pentus said. The largest investments of water management in the period of 2010-2014 are planned for the development of a contemporary water supply system in Kohtla-Järve and Narva, in almost 60 million euro in total. Approximately 88.6 million euro in total will be channelled into development of water management in Ida-Viru County from the Cohesion Fund and the environmental programme of the Environmental Investment Centre. The Minister of the Environment also visited Järve biological wastewater treatment plant which started operation in full capacity in the beginning of the previous week. As Keit Pentus said, an important aspect in the operation of the plant is ensuring the quality of air, in which no concessions can be made. "The company confirmed that it is taking this issue very seriously and is also searching for technological possibilities to avoid pollution of air by the plant. Monitoring data of air must also be precise," the Minister of the Environment Pentus explained. In the meeting with local rural municipality leaders the Minister of the Environment also introduced the programme of the Environmental Investment Centre, enabling to apply for grants in order to demolish old and crumbling "ghost buildings" spoiling the landscape. "Clean-up of the beautiful Estonian landscape of the ugly and simply dangerous crumbling buildings is also topical in Ida-Viru County and I recommend using this opportunity offered by the State," the Minister of the Environment Keit Pentus said. During the visit, the Minister is accompanied by the members of the Environmental Commission of the Parliament Tõnis Kõiv, Valeri Korb, a member of the Social Commission of the Parliament Rein Aidma and the adviser to the Minister Evelin Oras. |
