The Importance of Snow Removal: Who and Why?

We approached the inspector of the Department of Architecture and Construction, Housing and Communal Services of the District Executive Committee, Alexander Pechkovsky, for a comment.

We approached the inspector of the Department of Architecture and Construction, Housing and Communal Services of the District Executive Committee, Alexander Pechkovsky, for a comment.
-- In winter, as needed, and in conditions of heavy snowfall, like today, blizzards and icy conditions, it is necessary to clear snow and ice and treat all types of surfaces with anti-icing agents at least once a day, -- noted Alexander Vladimirovich.
The inspector explained that the issue of "boundaries of responsibility" has been worked out by legislative and regulatory acts at both the republican and district levels. Two documents are fundamental. These are the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of July 22, 2020 No. 430 "On the procedure for determining the sizes (limits) of territories for carrying out work to maintain their proper sanitary condition" and the decision of the Lepel District Executive Committee of July 31, 2020 No. 804 "On attracting legal entities, individual entrepreneurs, citizens to carry out work to maintain the proper sanitary condition of relevant territories" based on it. Please note that all owners of land plots, including owners of individual residential buildings, must also be guided by them.
Thus, by the decision of the District Executive Committee "On maintaining the proper sanitary condition of territories of common use lands of the Lepel district," legal entities and individual entrepreneurs have been involved in the established manner in carrying out work to maintain the proper sanitary condition on the territories of common use lands, including on the territories adjacent to the land plots provided to them (in their possession), by their own efforts or at their own expense. In addition, citizens – owners (legal owners) of single-family residential buildings, premises in semi-detached residential buildings (hereinafter referred to as households) – are involved in carrying out work to maintain the proper sanitary condition on the territories adjacent to the land plots provided to them (in their possession) by their own efforts.
-- Owners and tenants of land plots understand that they are obliged to keep the territories of the plots clean. But the question of the size of the territories always arises,adjacent to the boundaries of the plots.
-- According to Resolution No. 430, the sizes and limits of the territories where owners must maintain order are determined by local executive committees by adopting a decision to involve them in carrying out relevant work.
The sizes (limits) of the relevant territories when involving citizens for carrying out work to maintain proper sanitary conditions are established from the boundary of the land plot provided to the citizen (or held by them) to the sidewalk (in the absence thereof – to the boundary of the roadway of the street, road), on the other sides of the land plot – no more than 10 meters or half the distance to the neighboring land plot, but no more than 10 meters.
The sizes (limits) of the relevant territories when involving legal entities, individual entrepreneurs, and citizens for carrying out work to maintain proper sanitary conditions for land plots provided for the maintenance of individual garages located in courtyard areas, as well as land plots provided for the construction and (or) operation of garages, parking lots for vehicle storage, are determined by no more than 5 meters around the perimeter of the land plot.
-- Alexander Vladimirovich, a few words about the list of works for maintaining proper sanitary conditions in the relevant territories and the frequency of their execution.
-- First of all, cleaning and tidying of territories (sweeping of surfaces, removal of accidental litter, emptying of bins) – as needed. Also important are sanitary and technological measures (pruning, mowing, waste removal, and others) when carrying out landscaping work – as needed, approximately from May to September.
The list includes clearing snow and ice from all types of surfaces, treatment with anti-icing agents – as we discussed earlier. In addition, collection, separation by type, and removal of municipal waste – in accordance with the municipal waste management scheme, as well as cleaning and tidying of open drainage systems intended for the removal of surface and groundwater – ditches, gutters, culverts. This is also as needed.
Interviewed by Natalia Khrapovitskaya. Newspaper "Lepel Krai"