Penza, 12 August 2011. PenzaNews. The governor of the Penza region Vasily Bochkarev opposed cuttings down of pines in Ahunsky wood in Penza where according to the general plan, building of cottage settlement was planned to be. During the meeting with representatives of city administration and architects on Friday, August, 12th Vasily Bochkarev said: "I absolutely agree with local residents and also support preservation of green plantings. These woods once were the property of Goslesfond, and now the duty to protect and look after them is laid down on the city authorities".

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The head of region demanded from the head of administration of Penza Roman Chernov and the main architect of the city Dmitry Polishko to explain, how there could be such situation that the general plan allowed cutting down of pines.

According to Roman Chernov, the site was leased in 2008 and assumed placing of sports complex with dot building and minimum loss of the green plantings, however later the confirmed general layout carried wood territory to zone G-1 and allow housing building.

Roman Chernov said: "Now the group of active workers of Ahuny brought the claim in protection of wood plantings, therefore we cannot undertake any actions before the decision of judicial instance".

In turn the governor has demanded to apply all possible measures to preservation of pines.

The head of administration said: "The only thing that we can do, is to use an administrative resource to hold a diplomatic meeting of local residents with the tenant and, for example, to suggest the businessman to compensate losses, having allocated an additional site in other place, and to erect the children's sports ground on this territory which is not assuming pulling trees down".

Vasily Bochkarev reminded Roman Chernov of an adverse situation with cutting down of park named after Ulyanov in microdistrict Arbekovo and criticized the absence of anxiety of officials for a condition of wood fund of the city.

Besides, the governor appealed to the resident of Ahuny district Elena Zhukova who was at the meeting and asked her to have an active civic position not only defending woods, but also observing cleanliness in the green zone where unapproved dumps are formed.