Ecological problems of Vladikavkaz and Makhachkala are caused by social ones, "Caucasian Knot" debaters say

On November 28, the "Caucasian Knot" held an on-line discussion "Ecology of North-Caucasian City: Experience of Vladikavkaz and Makhachkala". It was initiated and moderated by Naima Neflyasheva, PhD in History, Senior Scientific Researcher at the Centre for Civilizational and Regional Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who is running her blog on the "Caucasian Knot".

According to her version, the unfavourable ecological situation in some cities of Northern Caucasus threatens to become a major challenge of the 21^st century. This is especially true for Vladikavkaz and Makhachkala, said Naima Neflyasheva.

According to experts, Vladikavkaz needs, first of all, to solve the problems of industrial enterprises, in particular, the "Electrozink" Factory, the emissions of which have become a headache of townspeople; and the problems of Makhachkala have to do with urbanization of the population.

Environmental problems of Makhachkala are due to the permanent growth of the city's population, noted Mairbek Agaev, a journalist of the Makhachkala-based edition "Chernovik".

Urbanization, huge increase of the number of motor vehicles, chaotic development, cutting of greenery spaces are the main causes of the bad ecological situation in the city, he said.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.