TANKHOI (Sputnik) — Baikal is the largest freshwater basin by volume and the deepest lake in the world, containing around 23% of the world's supply of fresh water.
"We need to give businesses incentives for being more environmentally responsible," Putin said during his visit to the Buryatia region. "We must pay extra attention to tightening controls. In this regard, I’m asking the prosecutor general’s office to look into possible illegal and ecologically-damaging activities in the Baikal territory."
The president also ordered authorities to put aside money and draw up a plan to clean up the area around Lake Baikal, which is on the UNESCO world heritage list.
"The first urgent task is to deal with the damage to ecology and re-cultivate the polluted territories. I want you to identify financial sources, set out plans and find those responsible for their implementation. Simultaneously, there is a need to examine facilities operating in the area as most of them have worn-out filtering equipment," Putin said.
