Money from fines for pollution of nature should be spent on its protection

The government has prepared a resolution that introduces a new procedure for financing environmental protection measures from regional and local budgets, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said.

Funds for the identification of objects of accumulated harm, their elimination, restoration of the natural environment will come from all users of natural resources, as well as from violators - through fines, payments on claims, voluntary compensation. "That is, the principle that the president spoke about will be implemented in practice, when the polluter pays," the head of the Cabinet emphasized.

He recalled that such payments from the budget of the region and the municipality should be earmarked for specific measures to protect nature. "The priority is the elimination of already identified points, including unauthorized dumps, landfills with waste," he outlined the primary tasks.

The regions will be able to allocate funds for additional environmental activities, such as the elimination of pollution of water bodies, the restoration and cultivation of forests, the monitoring of the state of the environment and the protection of protected areas.