Ecologists ask Putin's help in updating Sochi general plan

On October 1, ecological organizations sent an appeal to Chairman of Russian Government Vladimir Putin about a great number of ecologically unacceptable solutions in the draft general plan of the city of Sochi. They assert that a significant part of these solutions are in conflict with the current legislation of Russia.

The appeal was signed by representatives of the Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus, International Social-Ecological Union and Sochi Branch of the Russian Geographical Society.

In the opinion of public organizations, the neglect of the legislation "creates grounds for conflicts between the society and the authorities in the context of ecologically hazardous projects in the city of Sochi and growth of social instability in this city, thus, building a negative environmental image of 2014 Olympic Games."

In its turn, this "endangers the idea of holding the Olympics in Sochi, since the Games should be held under the best nature protection practices", ecologists assert.

The authors of the appeal remind that the protection status covers the Caucasian Reserve, across which, according to the general plan, three highways should be built, the Sochi National Park is planned, Sochi Wildlife Reserve and the resort of the federal importance - the city of Sochi proper.

The public organizations asked the Prime Minister "to help to send the draft general plan of Sochi to updating and to ensure a full-fledged participation of interested representatives of ecological and scientific community in this process."