6 May 2011 18:27

Russia will spend 60Bln rubles on environmental protection ahead of Olympics - Putin

VOLGOGRAD. May 6 (Interfax) - Russia will spend 60 billion rubles on environmental protection measures in relation to preparing for the 2014 Olympic Games, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said.

"The state will spend about 85 billion rubles on the construction of the Olympic sports venues and channel a total of 60 billion rubles on ecological, environmental protection measures," he said at a conference of United Russia party on Friday.

Putin said that in this case the spending volumes are absolutely comparable.

"The size of protected areas around Sochi will be increased by 20,000 hectares and serious investment will be made in the Caucasian biospheric preserve," he said.

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