OREANDA-NEWS. May 28, 2010. This was announced by Dmitry Medvedev at a State Council Presidium meeting on reform of the state management in environmental protection.

Protection of the environment and related activities are governed today by a number of isolated and at times contradictory laws, the President said. Besides, the country still lacks an integrated system of state monitoring of the environment. According to the President, a consolidated state policy is required to address environmental problems. First and foremost, codification of legislation should be completed, a plan of specific steps should be drafted, and a package approach in legislative acts preparation should be employed.

Mr Medvedev set a number of crucial goals in environmental protection. The rationing of the negative impact on the environment should be improved, the businesses should be enticed through offering manufacturers evident benefits from employing advanced technologies, and strict liability for environmental offences should be introduced.

Dmitry Medvedev stressed that observance of environmental protection legislation must become a standard practice.

Before the beginning of the meeting, the President toured Moscow’s Southwest Water Supply Station, spoke with its staff, and was introduced to modern water treatment technology. The station supplies water to the western and southwest districts of the capital.