Following the inspections carried out by Sverdlovsk Region Ministry of Natural Resources in April 2008, twenty-three unauthorized dumps were detected in seven out of Yekaterinburg’s eight districts, the spokesperson for the Ministry reports. These illegal dumping grounds cover a total area of 5,000 square meters in Ordzhonikidzevskiy district alone.

Apart from these inspections, the Ministry is currently checking forty-seven local builders and has already administered 40,000 RUR worth of fines for dirt and construction waste.

In addition, to mark the Year of Cleanliness, the housing authorities looked into the sanitary condition of 539 apartment buildings and found 177 violations in the maintenance companies’ performance. As a result, these will have to pay 405,000 RUR worth of fines, while a number of private individuals will have to pay 25,000 RUR worth of fines.