Inhabitants Welcome to Express Their Opinion on Riga Flood Management Plan
As of today, February 7, public deliberations start on Flood risk management plan and its Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment, developed in the framework of the project “Riga Against Flood”. Deliberations will last until March 17, 2012. Public deliberation meetings will be held on February 17 at 5pm in City Hall (Ratslaukums 1, Room 508), on February 20 at 6pm in Bolderaja library, on February 21 at 6pm in Jugla library and on February 22 at 6pm in Sarkandaugava library.
The Flood Risk Management plan for the capital city is the most essential document produced by City Development department within the framework of the project “Riga Against Flood”. All the results of research, measurements and conclusions that have been obtained within the framework of the project so far, have been included in Flood Risk Management plan, which comprises a detailed analysis of current situation, future flood forecasts with various climate change scenarios, as well as specific measures to prevent and reduce flood risks in future. The plan will be supplemented with cost-benefit analysis section, which will evaluate flood prevention measures, calculate the approximate construction costs, compare alternatives, determine the economic effectiveness and return, as well as identify those flood prevention measures that are a priority and are to be implemented first.
Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment of the Flood Risk Management plan for Riga City was developed in compliance with the effective regulations, and it was carried out by “Environmental Consulting Office” Ltd. that obtained the rights to carry out the work in an open competition. After the evaluation of public deliberations the prepared Environment report will be supplemented, and its final version will be available in May this year.
From February 7 till March 17, 2012 all persons interested in Flood Risk Management plan for Riga City and its Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment are welcome to:
- Riga City Construction Board Customer service centre Amatu street 4, on Mondays & Thursdays 10am-7pm, Tuesdays &Wednesdays 9am-4pm, Fridays 9am-2pm;
- Bolderaja library (Gaigalas street 3) on weekdays 10am-7pm, Saturdays 10am-5pm;
- Jugla library (Brivibas avenue 430a) on weekdays 10am-7pm, Saturdays 10am-5pm;
- Sarkandaugava library (Aptiekas street 14) on weekdays 10am-8pm, Saturdays 10am-5pm;
- On web pages: www.rdpad.lv and www.rigapretpludiem.lv.
Please submit references and suggestions on the above-mentioned documents in written form until March 17 either in person in Riga City Construction Board Customer service centre (Amatu street 4) or send by post to Riga City Council City Development department Board of Economics Amatu street 4, Riga, LV-1050. Suggestions can be also submitted by e-mail to: mareks.krumins@riga.lv
About the project:
The project RIGA AGAINST FLOOD” (in full "Integrated Strategy for Riga City to Adapt to the Hydrological Processes Intensified by Climate Change Phenomena") was launched by Riga City Council City Development Department in February 2010 and it will end on November 30, 2012. The main aim of the project is to explore hydrological processes – flood, intensive precipitation, wind surges, coastal erosion, significant changes in ground-water levels, which, combined with climate change, could have negative impact on the inhabitants of Riga, economy and preservation of natural and cultural heritage. The project also aims at providing solutions on how to forestall and reduce this impact. Within the framework of the project a model of Riga City relief has been worked out; and a substantial research on hydrological processes, as well as work on recommendations for future flood risk forestalment and reduction, is in progress. The total cost of the project is 662 240 EUR. The costs are equally shared by European Union finance programme for the environment LIFE+ and Riga municipality.
More information about the project – http://www.rigapretpludiem.lv/eng/
LIFE programme is the EU’s financial instrument supporting environmental and nature conservation projects. The main aim of LIFE+ programme is to contribute to passing, amending and enforcing of European Union environmental policy and legislation. LIFE programme was launched in 1992. Since then, LIFE has co-financed about 3104 projects throughout European Union, contributing about 2.2 billion Euros to the protection of the environment. The present stage of the programme – LIFE + - was launched in 2007 and will be implemented until 2013.
Riga City Council City Development Department
PR specialist Marija Ābeltiņa
67012916, 29231856, marija.abeltina@riga.lv, www.rdpad.lv
