Duma to set up workgroup for combatting aftermath of wildfires

MOSCOW, September 21 (Itar-Tass) - State Duma, the lower house of
Russian parliament is expected adopt a resolution establishing a workgroup
to combat the aftermath of forest fires and the abnormal heatwave that
affected many regions in the European part of Russia in the summer of 2010.
Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov said the group that is likely to be led by
the chairman of the house's security committee Vladimir Vasilyev, will
include representatives of all parliamentary factions.
The aftermath of the heatwave and wildfires, including the ones at the
extensive peat bogs in the regions of the Central Federal District, came
into a focus of discussion at the first plenary meeting of the Duma's
autumn session where the heads of relevant ministries and federal agencies
were invited to participate.
"The emergency situation that swept many regions of our country as a
result of abnormally hot weather couldn't but be reflected in the agenda
of the State Duma," Gryzlov said at the meeting.
The Speaker recalled that this summer's wildfires have killed dozens
of Russian citizens and brought damage to thousands of others who lost
homes and possessions, "to say nothing of the amounts of agricultural
production. "
"A comprehensive analysis of the forestry and environmental
legislation, improvement of the insurance market, the creation of
additional legislative safeguards for preventing and quickly eliminating
the bad impact of abnormal climatic phenomena, if they occur again in the
future, will demand different forms of parliamentary work as far as the
discussions of these and other challenges are concerned," he said.
According to Gryzlov, on Tuesday the MPs will also review the
implementation of the federal budget for 2009.