Gomel oblast to build and reconstruct 118 kilometers of dams

Some 118 kilometers of dams will be built and reconstructed in Gomel oblast to protect settlements of the region from floods, chairman of the oblast executive committee Alexander Yakobson told a press conference today dedicated to perspectives of socio-economic development of the region in 2006-2010. Some 61 kilometers of intake channels will be rationalized; more than five kilometers of roads will be built, more than 150 kilometers of discharge channels will be equipped with necessary facilities and pump houses will be reconstructed for this purpose, Alexander Yakobson added. According to him, these steps will let protect from floods 14,4 thousand hectares of land and 17 settlements of the region with a population of eight thousand. The anti-flood measures will be taken within the framework of the republican program on preserving and using meliorated lands designed for 2006-2010, the governor noted. In line with the program some Br208 billion will be given to Gomel oblast from the republican budget. Due to the program the arable land productivity will grow 1,5 times by 2010 up to 52,4 centners of fodder units per one hectare and the grassland productivity – up to 33 centners of fodder units per one hectare.