Government set to spend RUB 1 bn for Volga-Caspian Canal dredging project in 2016

About RUB 1 billion will be invested in dredging of Volga-Caspian Shipping Canal and clearing of the canal bed in 2016. Last year 638 million rubles were invested in the VCSC dredging. As part of maintenance dredging 17 million cbm of materials have been excavated on the canal, the press office of Astrakhan Region Governor Alexander Zhilkin reported.

"The issue of development of the inland waterways of the Russian Federation is essential to achieve sustainable social and economic development of the country and is under constant control of the president. To systematically solve the water shortage problem, we need to identify a single "master" of the Volga (as an example, this could be the Ministry of Natural Resources), to adopt a federal target program for ecological rehabilitation of this unique water basin," said Astrakhan Gov Alexander Zhilkin.

A meeting the State Council on "The Development of Inland Waterways in the Russian Federation" was slated for August 2016. Alexander Zhilkin was appointed head of the working group on preparation for this meeting.

Volga-Caspian Canal is a unified deepwater artery linking waterways of the Volga River and the Caspian Sea. Its total length, including the fluvial and marine parts is 188 km. Dredging of the VCSC is performed annually in accordance with the "Project of maintenance dredging on the 0-188-km stretch of Volga-Caspian Shipping Canal for the period until 2018 along with the development of environmental measures. The sea-adjacent part". The project has obtained environmental seal of approval of the state ecological expertise.