The Odessa City Executive Committee Allocated 294 Million for Environmental Protection

The Executive Committee of the Odesa City Council approved amendments to the city’s environmental protection program for 2022–2028, increasing its funding by 293.9 million hryvnias, however, the final decision will be made by the Odesa City Military Administration, following approval by the city council.

The Center for Public Investigations analyzed exactly where the funds will go.

 193.1 million hryvnias are planned to be funded from the Odesa City Community budget, with another 100 million hryvnias expected to come from other sources. The district budget will contribute 804,600 hryvnias. Separately, over 100 million hryvnias are earmarked from the city’s environmental protection fund.

The most expensive projects are the major overhauls of drainage pumping stations No. 4 and No. 5 on Khadzhibey Road. The plan is to spend 58.5 million hryvnias on the first station and another 55.8 million on the second. Both facilities are intended to prevent potential emergencies in the event of a breach of the Khadzhibey Estuary dam.

An additional 30.5 million hryvnias are earmarked for the construction of a system to utilize drainage water for the city’s domestic and firefighting needs. A new public drinking fountain on Akademika Sakharova Street will cost nearly 20.8 million hryvnias, while the construction of a complex near Vladislav Buvalkin Street will cost 19.5 million hryvnias.

Separate funding will be allocated for monitoring the shoreline, coastal protection, research into catacombs and underground workings, as well as the creation of backup water supply systems for the city’s needs during martial law. Additionally, 13.1 million hryvnias (out of a total of 30.5 million hryvnias) have been allocated for the construction of a firefighting water pipeline along the coast using the drainage system of landslide-prevention structures. 

Waste management was the second-largest area of funding. A total of 33.9 million hryvnias is planned to be allocated for these purposes. Among the key projects is the construction of a thermal treatment facility for hazardous, medical, and biological waste on Aeroportivska Street. Over 7 million hryvnias have been allocated for the construction itself in 2028, with an additional 1.55 million hryvnias earmarked for design work.

The city also plans to create a container site for waste collection in the Arkadia district at a cost of 10.5 million hryvnias, develop a local waste management plan, and continue efforts to identify and eliminate illegal dumps. The program also includes measures for the collection of batteries, light bulbs, mercury waste, and other hazardous substances that may pose a threat to the environment.

An additional 10.1 million hryvnias is allocated for air quality monitoring. The funds will be used to support the operations of the municipal environmental laboratory, purchase equipment, calibrate it, and conduct thousands of air quality measurements each year. The Engineering Protection Department has received stable annual funding (100,000 hryvnias) for reconnaissance surveys of residential buildings to detect the presence of underground structures (catacombs and mines). This will help prevent ground subsidence beneath residential buildings under conditions of increased vibration loads on the city. 

Кирило Бойко