European pilot project for developing territories hit by Chornobyl disaster being realized in Ukraine

17:46

The Emergencies Ministry of Ukraine, the European Commission and Rivne regional state administration on Thursday in Kyiv presented a pilot project for the development of territories hit by the Chornobyl disaster, according to Deputy Emergencies Minister Volodymyr Kholosha.

The realization of the project on the social and economic development of villages in Rivne region that were polluted in the Chornobyl disaster, "will provide people living in the affected territory with jobs, and allow them to grow uncontaminated produce."

According to Dirk Schubel, the head of representative office of the European Commission in Ukraine, the planned measures include creating in the Volodymyretsky area of Rivne region pilot programs for growing fruit and berries, providing them with planting stock and the necessary specialized agricultural equipment as well as funding the modernization of processing plants.

Realization of the project, which is financed by the European Union, will last from January 2009 until July 2010, and will have funding of around EUR 500,000, with the possibility of applying the experience to other territories affected by the disaster.