Water resources policy and administrative management

Industrial activities have made Petrasiunai one of the most polluted areas in Kaunas. Pollution in the River Amale, which runs into the River Nemunas, is particularly noticeable. The stream is polluted with wastewater and chemicals, while its banks have become a dump. The municipality is planning to canalize the Amale stream and run a wastewater pipeline through the neighboring area of private gardens, but the implementation of the plan has been slowed down. The goal is to reduce the pollution of the Amale and the Nemunas by joint efforts from different organizations. The project also aims to seek a political dialogue with the municipality through the involvement of the polluting industries and the encouragement of community projects for solving common problems. Water quality tests will be carried out, the main polluters of the stream will be identified and announced publicly, the community will take part in the joint rehabilitation of the Amale and roads leading to the stream will be fenced and marked with traffic signs. To educate the community, encourage its greater participation and influence local policy, more than 12 different meetings, two workshops and two public lectures for the community and a conference will be organized. A community forum will also be arranged, an Internet page designed, articles prepared and a TV show produced. Seeking to speed up the implementation of canalization in the private gardens, cooperation with different stakeholders will be employed. The enhanced community is expected to continue to play an active role in solving environmental and other issues. Pollution in the River Amale should be reduced significantly. Monitoring of the results and achievements of the project will be carried out for five years.

Lithuania