On September 21, Vitebsk /Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. 55 individuals were held administratively liable in the Vitebsk region in August for violating the rules of harvesting and collecting lingonberries and cranberries, as reported to BELTA correspondent by the Vitebsk Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. The largest number of claims (22) for the illegal collection of lingonberries and cranberries were filed by the Liozno District Inspectorate. In total, across the Vitebsk Regional Committee, 59 claims totaling Br12.8 million were filed for causing harm to the flora. According to environmentalists, in January-August of the current year, the largest number of protocols for violating environmental legislation concerned atmospheric air protection – almost a third of the total number. Every fifth protocol recorded violations of waste management rules, and slightly fewer violated legislation regarding water resource protection. Over eight months of 2011, the Vitebsk Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and its structural divisions conducted over 600 planned and unscheduled inspections of business entities. As a result of inspection activities, the Vitebsk Regional Committee held 3.4 thousand violators of environmental legislation administratively liable, including 1.4 thousand officials. Fines totaling Br460.8 million were imposed. 129 administrative cases were sent to courts. The operation of 63 ecologically hazardous production units and facilities was suspended until identified violations of environmental legislation were rectified. 131 claims totaling Br637.5 million were filed against business entities for causing environmental damage. -0-

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