1-5 Curie Radiation Harmless? :: Charter'97 :: News

From the New Year the residents of the radioactively contaminated regions, where the level of pollution is estimated at 1-5 curie, will no longer be getting their compensation allowances. Such decision was introduced into a project budget for the year 2002. Symbolic payments, worth 600-700 rubles, won’t be paid out to 1mln.300thsd, citizens. Therefore, the government admitted that it is unable to provide for the normal living standard in the Chernobyl zone. Despite the Finance Minister’s claims about the social orientation of the 2002 budget, the government will cut down the subsidies for the living quarters, transportation, which means that the tariffs on that for the population will augment.

Payment for a standard two-room apartment, according to the government’s estimations, will cost 34 thousand rubles in winter period. The government also plans the gradual decrease of privileges and donations – gas supplies and electricity will be paid for by individuals rather than enterprises.

At the same time the expenditures on defense and law-enforcement will grow, so will the expenses on agriculture.