Results of the Year of Public Improvement in the region discussed in Vitebsk
How the northern region performed and what order-restoring measures were implemented in 2025 – this topic became one of the key items on the agenda of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee meeting, chaired by Alexander Rogozhnik.
Roman Koltsa, Chairman of the Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, reported on the results. He reminded that the past year was the first in the five-year quality plan, and the main focus of work was restoring order on the land and improving settlements. Relevant measures are carried out annually in the region. Social and transport infrastructure is developing, issues of environmental safety, waste management system development, etc., are being addressed.
Settlements continued to transform in 2025: active landscaping was carried out, and the street and road network was repaired. Empty and dilapidated houses were demolished. Great attention was paid to ensuring the operation of drinking water supply systems, street lighting, and the construction of sports and children's playgrounds.
Among the priorities is restoring order in the territories of agricultural organizations and production facilities.
The northern region faced challenging tasks for 2025. For a number of indicators, it was necessary to achieve 10-15% more than in the previous year.
Roman Koltsa emphasized that the action plan was approved by the Regional Executive Committee's decision No. 212 "On Holding the Year of Improvement" and included 88 items. The measures were implemented, and adjustments were made throughout the year to increase targets. In addition, the plan was supplemented.
More than 41 thousand trees and 29 thousand shrubs were planted in settlements, and 25 hectares of lawns were created and repaired. The normative level of greening of 40% has been achieved in all cities of the region.
Work was carried out on the sanitary cleaning of watercourses and reservoirs, and the repair and arrangement of sports grounds. 118 small architectural forms were installed and repaired at such facilities, and 82 waste collection containers were installed. 14 springs were equipped.
– Planned tasks for the liquidation plugging of wells have been completed, – added Roman Koltsa. – Work has also been carried out to regulate the spread and number of Sosnowsky's hogweed over an area of more than 4.5 thousand hectares, including repeated work. Particular attention in 2026 should be paid to combating Sosnowsky's hogweed in the most infested areas: Braslavsky, Vitebsky, Gorodoksky, Orshansky, Tolochinsky, Ushachsky.
As for the forest fund, 18 new ecological trails have been created on its territory. Sanitary felling was carried out on 5.5 thousand hectares, and more than 935 hectares were cleared of wind-felled and storm-damaged stands.
Good roads mean logistics, potential for economic development of the region, safety and comfort for local residents and tourists. Last year, current repairs of republican highways with a length of 268 km were carried out in the region. The area near transport arteries was decorated with more than 80 small architectural forms. To maintain cleanliness and order along the highways, over four dozen waste collection containers were installed.
Eight passenger platforms and ten stopping points were repaired at railway stations and stopping points.
Great attention is also paid to the waste management system and secondary material resources. Waste sorting complexes are being built and modernized, new methods and technologies for using municipal solid waste are being introduced, etc. As of early January, 22 municipal solid waste landfills are in operation in the region, and 6 have been closed.
The Novopolotsk regional municipal solid waste management complex has been put into operation, in connection with which the municipal solid waste landfills of Novopolotsk and Ushachi are subject to closure.
In total, the city and district executive committees in the region developed and approved 23 municipal waste management schemes for all administrative-territorial units, including horticultural partnerships and garage cooperatives. More than 77% of horticultural partnerships registered in the Vitebsk region and about 84% of garage cooperatives concluded waste disposal agreements.
– In order to fulfill the instructions of the Head of State, the Government, and comply with waste management legislation, it is necessary to take measures to develop and regularly update schemes, as well as to ensure 100% conclusion of agreements, – Roman Koltsa drew attention and added that the most frequent violation of waste management legislation is their placement outside authorized places (1.3 thousand facts last year).
Work in each of these areas will continue.
The meeting also discussed the results of the work of the main control and analytical department.