Official explains need to reclaim old landfill in Yablonevsky Garden
A map showing the location of Yablonevsky Garden in St. Petersburg, the site of the landfill reclamation project.
At a TASS press conference on January 22, St. Petersburg Vice-Governor Aleksey Korabelnikov stated that the city intends to reclaim the old landfill in Yablonevsky Garden. This position is facing resistance from a group of activists who consider the work unnecessary and risky for the future of the green zone.
Korabelnikov noted that the landfill is listed in the register of sites of accumulated environmental damage that must be neutralized. «Each of these landfills is inspected by Rosprirodnadzor (the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources), and based on the results of these inspections, a conclusion is made regarding the harm this landfill creates and how many people will benefit from its reclamation,» he said.
The vice-governor emphasized that the expert assessment showed the insufficiency of the measures carried out in Soviet times, as hazardous emissions persist. «The technologies that existed in the Soviet Union are not the technologies used now. Now we have moved forward, we understand how to work with these territories,» Korabelnikov stated. The modern project includes the installation of anti-filtration screens to protect water bodies from contaminated water.
According to the official, as a result, the territory will not be lost but will be transformed into a modern park. «Let»s be frank: it looks rather poor from a recreational standpoint. I think the residents who live nearby should be interested in having a beautiful view when they look out their windows,« he said. The project is undergoing expert reviews, and its results are planned to be discussed with residents.
The garden on the site of the former landfill began to form back in the 1980s. Authorities previously reported plans to complete the phased elimination of sites of accumulated environmental damage by 2035.
