Belarusian government removes about 374 hectares in five districts of Homel region from exclusion zone lands

Land plots in five districts of the Homel region have been removed from the radiation-hazardous exclusion zone lands. The relevant Council of Ministers resolution was signed by Aliaksandr Turchyn.

According to Belarusian state media, a decision has been made to return part of the territories of the affected region to economic use.

The document concerns the Brahin, Buda-Kashalyova, Vietka, Mazyr and Chachersk districts. The plots cover a total of about 374 hectares. They are being removed from the radiation-hazardous exclusion zone lands and transferred to economic use.

The changes affect residents and farms in the five districts. According to reports by pro-Russian publications, produce grown on these plots will be mandatorily checked for radiation. It is not yet known when such monitoring will begin or who will carry it out.

The resolution takes effect on the day it was adopted, so the new status of the plots is already in force.

The question of radiation safety of food in the region has been raised before. According to state media, in January 2021 radiation monitoring of food in the private sector of four districts of the Homel region recorded levels above the norms.