Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Moscow Region NIKOLAI PISCHEV told Kommersant correspondent IVAN BURANOV what the regional authorities are doing to prevent last year’s disaster.

— Was the question raised that the Moscow region could control its forests, like in other regions?

— The issue of transferring powers in the forestry sector was considered by the Russian government. And in all likelihood, reasons were found there for the Rosleskhoz lands not to be transferred to us.

— Governor of the Moscow Region Boris Gromov said that there is an agreement to allocate 1.1 billion rubles. from the federal budget for watering peatlands in 2011. What is the scheme for receiving funds?

— First, it is necessary to carry out design work at the expense of regional funds. Then develop an estimate that will show how much money is needed. The competition for the design organization recently ended, after April 20 we can already begin design and survey work. After they run out, we will be given money. By decision of the president, a single organization will perform construction work on watering. One of these days a decree of the Russian government should be signed on this matter. This will speed up the progress of work, since there will be no need to hold a separate competition to select a construction organization.

— How much will the deadlines shift?

— We will begin constructing capital facilities for the received projects around July 1. This week, First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov will decide to allocate an advance to the Moscow region so that construction can begin in the near future. But we will not wait, just as we will not wait for the completion of design work. We will begin building some of the facilities somewhere in mid-May. We are talking about objects that do not require detailed and complex design.

— What if they are located on the territory of Rosleskhoz?

— All issues have been resolved with Rosleskhoz, and 16 thousand hectares of forest land are already at our disposal. Rosleskhoz transferred them for temporary use to the region for watering work there. We can already build hydraulic structures and operate them.

— What will be built this year?

— We are talking about about 300 structures. These include dozens of locks, fire-fighting reservoirs, dams and dams, platforms for pumping stations, water valves, pipelines, and access roads. The total length of linear objects will be about 200 km.

— What kind of work are carried out by municipal authorities using their own funds?

“They are aimed at retaining snow as much as possible and keeping flood waters on peatlands. 123 dams and dams, 150 km of snow banks have already been erected, and 156 km of roads have been repaired. These measures will make it possible to irrigate an additional 15-17 thousand hectares by the end of May.

— Is this area included in the 22 thousand hectares planned for 2011?

— No, because these are temporary structures. For example, lintels and dams are made of earth; they cannot be called structures. Let's say there is a canal through which water drains from peat areas. By placing an earthen bridge, we retain moisture. If there is a lot of water, it will rise above the lintel and wash it away. In the case of capital construction, a serious hydraulic structure, for example a sluice, is erected. Sometimes they build a regular concrete dam - if there is excess moisture, the water overflows over the top.

— How is the problem of windfall left over from last year’s fires solved?

- This is a sore subject. It is very difficult to clear forests of fireweed and forests that were felled during freezing rain. The measures taken by Rosleskhoz are not enough. Unfortunately, the legislation does not allow us to allow the population into the forest to clean and remove these trees. Rosleskhoz is obliged to hold competitions and sell dead wood to companies that will process it.

— What is the state of affairs on the lands of federal enterprises located in the region?

— On the territory of the region there are the Zavidovo complex of the Federal Protective Service, the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and a branch of the State Institution Scientific Center for Biomedical Technologies of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. Budget money from the Moscow region cannot be spent on watering them. This issue was raised at a meeting with Viktor Zubkov. The heads of departments were instructed to organize watering in these territories. As far as I know, preparations for watering have already begun.

“The measures taken by Rosleskhoz are not enough”