Ecologists to dispute the approval of Sochi master plan

The Ecological Watch on North Caucasus intends to file law suits at "appropriate instances" in order to dispute the decision of the Sochi city assembly which approved the city development master plan on July 14. According to Dmitry Kaptsov, deputy coordinator of the organization, the master plan contains elements which threaten the environmental safety of the city.

On July 14, deputies of the Sochi city assembly adopted a master plan of the city district "the City of Sochi". The Sochi master plan had not been coordinated with the Ministry of Environment due to inherent contradictions, however, Аnatoli Pakhomov, mayor of the city, declared that the master plan would be considered by the deputies and approved, despite the controversies. Previously, ecologists stated that they may dispute the decision of the Sochi city assembly deputies who approved the master plan.

According to Kaptsov, the Ecological Watch intends to file law suits at appropriate instances, including the prosecutor's office.

"There is cause for filing a suit, out worst expectations have materialized: the master plan includes major transport projects at the National park", said Kaptsov as an example.