"The more complicated the equation, the more unknowns, the more interesting it is to solve it"
Today, the online newspaper Realnoe Vremya hosted a direct line with the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Tatarstan, Alexander Shadrikov.
For an hour, the head of the environmental protection agency answered questions from the editorial staff and readers. Alexander Shadrikov noted the contribution of Tatarstan enterprises to the environment. Over the past 8 years, they have invested 74 billion in nature conservation. Over the years, 106 billion rubles have been allocated to environmental projects. The amount of damage prevented over 8 years amounted to 117 billion rubles, 1,358 events were held. According to preliminary estimates, in 2025 alone, 16.8 billion rubles were spent on environmental protection measures in Tatarstan, 15 billion of which were invested by enterprises.
Among the priorities is work within the framework of the national project "Environmental well-being". In 2025, work began on clearing the second section of the Melekeski River in Naberezhnye Chelny, which is especially important in light of the upcoming anniversary of the city. The project is planned for 2027 inclusive.
The Free Current project — clearing the Kazanka riverbed — is also continuing this year with the support of the Tatarstan branch of the Russian Geographical Society. Since 2023, 5.5 thousand cubic meters of wood have already been lifted from the water, 900 bags of garbage have been collected, 76 rubble has been cleared on 32 kilometers of the river. In addition to the fact that the river flow is improving, the Ministry of Ecology has also launched a project to reconstruct forest stands near Kazanka.
Separately, the minister focused on the reclamation of silt fields of biological treatment facilities in Kazan.
— Indeed, the project is very complicated. Colleagues from other regions said: "Only the Republic of Tatarstan can implement this." Yes, this is true, because the more complex the equation, the more unknowns, the more interesting it is to solve it. Since the project is a pilot project, a number of factors influenced the duration of its implementation. The sanctions have also made their own adjustments. But as a result of all the work carried out, 140 hectares within the city limits will be put into circulation.
The Minister also spoke about the atmospheric air monitoring system. It is expanding every year in the republic. Currently, the unified information system of the Ministry of Ecology of Tatarstan receives information in real time from 31 automatic air pollution control stations (AAPCS), 14 of which belong to the largest environmental enterprises.: PJSC Kazanorgsintez, PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim, JSC TAIF-NK, JSC TANECO, PJSC Tatneft. The stations are located in Kazan, Yelabuga, Mendeleevsk, Nizhnekamsk, Naberezhnye Chelny, Aznakaevo, Almetyevsky and Zelenodolsk districts. In addition, environmentalists have at their disposal 10 mobile environmental laboratories (six of them belong to the Ministry, four belong to large industrial enterprises), which, if necessary, travel to the site and conduct an operational analysis of air quality.
"Such constructive work with enterprises is bearing fruit: if in 2018 there were 583 complaints about the quality of atmospheric air at the Nizhnekamsk Industrial hub, today there are only four by the end of 2025. The decrease is 145 times," the minister said. There is also a positive trend in the northern part of Kazan. If in 2024 1,252 exceedances of the maximum permissible concentration of pollutants in the air were recorded here, then in 2025 their number fell by 7.9 times to 158. 2.8 times fewer complaints were received from residents — 186, while last year 539 people complained about air quality.
A lot of research work has been done on the northern part of Kazan: the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Research Center for Medical and Preventive Technologies for Public Health Risk Management identified the source of the unpleasant odor in this area, and Moscow State University, UGLU, the Atmosphere Research Institute, ANO Ecoterra, and KNRTU identified the sources of atmospheric air pollution in the northwestern part of Kazan. According to scientists, one of the main sources of the unpleasant odor was the landfill on Khimicheskaya St., which belongs to the Housing and Communal Services Management Company.
Work continues in Tatarstan to achieve carbon neutrality. A total of 57 events are planned, and 28 responsible performers have been identified. The goal is to achieve full carbon neutrality by 2050 (that is, a state where carbon dioxide emissions and its capture from the air will be equal). Also among the landmark projects of the Ministry of Ecology is participation in the conservation of the snow leopard population. In 2025, Kazan hostedInternational Conference "Study and conservation of the snow leopard in the world. Joining forces." It was attended by participants from all 12 countries where the snow leopard lives in nature. The Kazan Resolution was adopted and cooperation agreements were signed. The work continues after the conference. On the basis of the Snow Leopard Center, which operates in Altai with the support of the Government of Tatarstan and PJSC Tatneft, it was proposed to create a scientific consortium to preserve the genetic diversity of leopards and study their adaptation to natural conditions. Large enterprises of Tatarstan joined this work and signed an agreement to support the leopard conservation project with financing — these are TAIF-NK, Nefis Cosmetics, Tatspirtprom and other companies.
At the end of the direct line, Alexander Shadrikov wished everyone a Happy New Year and wished everyone health and success in 2026.