Kazan Mayor Metshin comments on prolonged snowstorm, extends Buran plan

In Kazan, the Buran emergency plan has been extended, and Mayor Ilsur Metshin commented on the ongoing snowfalls, which have not stopped since January, at a business meeting on Monday.

«The work fell, so to speak, from the sky, but it is not yet finished. A decision was made yesterday, today we would like to announce that »Buran« is extended for an additional two days. Today and tomorrow, it is necessary for road services to intensify their work on snow removal; traffic lanes are narrowed where there is a lot of snow on the roads, within residential blocks, and at social facilities,» he stated.

Metshin noted that the intensified work regime for all special services will remain in effect until Wednesday, 4 February. School students will continue with remote learning, and daycare centers will organize on-duty groups for children whose parents cannot stay home with them.

The Kazan mayor pointed out that in January, 474 thousand tons of snow were removed from the city«s streets, which is twice the amount for the entire previous winter.

According to Metshin, this week is expected to be just as snowy, so all city services must be ready, and management companies (UK) need to respond promptly to citizens« complaints about snow removal from courtyards.

«We continue to dig our city out of its snowy captivity. Our main problem is in the courtyards. I draw attention once again to the fact that management companies must organize this work together with residents. The work of UKs is truly put to the test on days like these. Our municipal unitary enterprises (MUPs) are coping on the roads. We need to monitor the condition of roofs on apartment buildings and outdoor staircases where they exist. There is a great, great deal of snow,» he warned.

The snow cyclone that hit Moscow last week reached Tatarstan. Due to the worsening weather, icy conditions, traffic jams, and transport collapses occurred in the city and on highways. On Friday, bus services in the city and nearby towns stopped running due to the snowfall.

According to a climatologist«s forecast, the weather was expected to return to normal by the end of the week. On Friday, 30 January, Kazan introduced the »Buran« emergency regime. The city hall explained that municipal services switched to an intensified work mode. Snow-melting stations are also operating at full capacity. The city administration warned that cleaning courtyards and streets may take longer than usual.