Katouka Defenders: ‘They Offered We Should Pay For Beautification Of Square! Where Can We Take Money?

The Katouka square in Minsk once again becomes the subject of disputes between the ecologists and the local authorities.

The kp.by journalists went to see what is happening now in the scandalous Katouka square. Children are playing with their parents; dog owners are walking their pets at the site where the battle for the protection of trees took place. The trees remain, but not all of them, because some had to be cut. The alleys look clean, which is a sort of a surprise, as there appeared no trash bins.

The authorities: “We offered the ecologists to start acting”

The Katouka square in Minsk once again becomes a matter of dispute between environmentalists and the district authorities. In the end of last year there was a scandal because of the construction of the church, for which it was necessary to cut down trees. The "Green" activists and local residents collected signatures against the construction, interfered with "Zelenstroy", and it was close to the fight. The story ended only in February this year, the church was moved to the Niakrasau street.

The authorities backed down then, but said that they were waiting for some other actions from the ecologists. Mayor Andrei Shorats suggested that defenders of the square should take patronage over it and do the landscaping.

And so, the local authorities sent a letter with proposals to the environmental organizations. In the administration of the Savetski district, an improvement plan has been developed, which includes pedestrian paths, children's and sports grounds.

"The scheme will be sent to the environmental organizations," – Deputy Head of the district administration Maxim Sakalou has said. - To get the work started, you need to make the project documentation and get permission from the administration. I suggested that the representatives of the organizations should obtain such permission and implement the plan. It was understood that they would act as customers for their projects, because they were ready to maintain the state of the park. However, three weeks passed, I haven’t seen any action. I know for sure that children's playgrounds will be built, the administration agreed on this in the summer of 2016.”

Ecologists: “Landscaping of the square should be conducted by joint efforts”

The activists have their own vision of the problem.

- We know that the project is being developed, but we were not informed of the results," - activist, local resident Victar says. - The first thing we want to do for a long time is to plant trees at our expense in exchange for the cuttings. At a meeting with the mayor, they agreed that they would give us permission on this. Time passed, but it was never given. Also, a group of activists is developing a plan for the improvement: paths, lights, trash bins... However, this should be paid through the district budget and the investors.

- After the statement of the mayor, the officials of the district administration proposed to make us in charge of the territory of the square, so that we would be responsible for its well-being. According to the rules of improvement, in addition to, for example, regular cleaning and maintenance of trees, we must take on a number of financial issues. We are not ready for this: the public organization does not have such finances. The maintenance of territories is the responsibility of the local authorities, budget funds are allocated for this. Our proposal is to create a square council, which would include representatives of the district administration, public organizations, residents, business representatives, and to beautify the park together. The administration replied that this was not appropriate.

- How is the state of the square maintained now? What are you planning to do?

- Before the New Year, we cleaned the park together with the local residents, and we are going to hang birdhouses for birds soon. We also conducting a research, determine the needs of residents. In general, people identify several points: lay paths, put trash bins, lanterns, and playgrounds.