Mayor of Kazan: Safety in Kazan will by 2013 be at world level
The chief of the city’s civil defence department Ferdinand Timurkhanov noted in a report that due to the measures taken within the programme, the number of emergencies has over the 8 months of 2008 decreased from 6 to 3 units, by 50 percent versus the same period last year; the number of fires has decreased from 641 to 539 (a 16-percent reduction), water accidents during the bathing season have gone down from 41 to 36, showing a 12-percent decrease.
In his words, the Kazan’s search and rescue team had been considerably developed. Since 1 January, its numbers have increased by 20 people. Additional financing has been allocated to support the team, in the amount of 4.36 million roubles (about $180 thousand). The rescuers have have been able to offer greater help to people. Over the said period they have visited 398 accident scenes, in which saved 460 people including 65 children. In the same period last year, they had saved 124 people in 398 operations.
“The emergency prevention programme becomes especially relevant in the run-up to the Universiade 2013,” emphasised Ferdinand Timurkhanov.
The Tatarstan Emergency Minister Rafis Khabibullin noted that the programme implemented in Kazan was unique for Russia. The Tatarstan’s ministry will in the near term allocate 96 million roubles ($4 million) to construct a fire depot in one of the city districts. The service will be granted 23 thousand square metres of space.
“By 2013, safety in Kazan will be provided at a world level,” claimed the mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin. He emphasised the importance of a pilot project on establishing an emergency service with the single 112 phone number that is expected to be launched in 2010. Tatar-inform, Sergei Semerkin