Pure Comedy Gold, Part II - Putin Vows To Crack Down On Polluting Industries - Reuters

[hatrack]

Prime Minster Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said Russia will hike fines on polluting companies under a new bill set to target metals firms, as over one sixth of the country's territory is contaminated.

Russian metals and mining industry is still heavily dependent on coal energy and Soviet-era outdated technology, as almost 15 percent of Russia's 17 million square kilometers (10.5 square miles) is contaminated, according to expert estimates.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting to discuss the draft law, which has previously met with fierce opposition from industrial lobbies, Putin said it was essential to force companies to adopt "cleaner and green technologies."

"Without a doubt we need to get rid of dirty companies, guarantee high ecological standards and set tough regulations on violators," Putin said. The new legislation aims to more than double duties on firms caught polluting from 2012 and more than triple them from 2016, Natural Resources Minister Yuri Trutnev said.

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