Riga Development Plan 2006–2018. Sarkandaugava

I decided to look into the Riga Development Plan for 2006 to 2018. If until now I had relied on the willingness of state and municipal institutions to represent citizens' interests and their common sense, then after a relentless and at times hopeless struggle against the acute air pollution in Sarkandaugava, I decided to remain in opposition to any city development plans. On principle - if the city cannot sort out the elementary needs of neighbourhood residents for a clean environment, then there are well-founded concerns that the creation of any new infrastructure will bring even greater harm and will be unable to ensure compliance with and oversight of regulations and laws.

The development plan, it must be said, is quite voluminous and can be found here [[1], 1.4. Graphic section]. Of all the development objects and infrastructure elements, as a permanent Sarkandaugava resident, I am most interested in the brewing changes in Sarkandaugava.

As the most significant change, the city fathers have planned the reconstruction of Tvaika Street and the construction of a connecting overpass with Viestura Prospekt. The project envisages the following:

1. Widening of Tvaika Street (in the area around 44–56 Tvaika Street);
2. Construction of a new overpass to Kundziņsala;
3. Widening of Kundziņsala's 3rd Line and construction of further infrastructure.

What we primarily object to:

1. That the widening of Tvaika Street will occur largely at the expense of the green zone located between Tvaika Street and the residential buildings.
2. The change to the existing zoning (3-0010000-0773-0010000-077). If the State Land Service maps are accurate, then the zoning ends a short distance beyond Tvaika Street, not just before the buildings, as envisaged in the development plan (see figure 6).
3. With the creation of new infrastructure, environmental problems and the issue of air pollution (primarily with carcinogenic substances such as benzene) will become even more pressing and will most likely become uncontrollable;
4. The noise level that neighbourhood residents are currently struggling with, caused by Man-Tess railway freight operations, pump activity, as well as machinery involved in dredging works in the water areas adjacent to Man-Tess and Kundziņsala, will deteriorate further and become uncontrollable.

The concerns are grounded in the chronic inability of Riga City Council's Development Department, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (MEPRD), the State Environmental Service, and the Greater Riga Regional Environmental Administration to address environmental issues, to which Sarkandaugava neighbourhood residents have drawn attention on multiple occasions. The disinterest of responsible officials, behind which most likely lie self-serving and possibly corrupt interests.

This article has an informational purpose.
Sarkandaugava residents are requested to submit objections regarding Sarkandaugava development plans by 31.07.2012 to Riga City Council's City Development Department.
I call upon non-governmental organisations representing Sarkandaugava residents to act without delay!

Map overlays can be viewed in the gallery.

[1] http://www.rdpad.lv/rpap/rpap_ar_grozijumiem/