How did we move the tube from Baikal Lake
The public campaign against the oil pipeline construction on the Baikal shore that started in 2004 had brought the results. The pipeline passed using another route. The public protest was supported also by the NGOs, our supporters, scientists and public figures...
Everything had been started in summer 2004 when the "Transneft" State Company had suddenly changed the name of the pipeline system from "Angarsk-Nakhodka" to "East Siberia - Pacific". Public organizations were refused to receive the documents necessary for Public Environmental Assessment. As it turned out the assessment was made by some organization somehow or other connected with the company. The project received the positive conclusion. Prime-Minister M.Fradkov approved the pipeline construction on December, 31, 2004.
We had the opportunity to meet the Vice-Presidents of the "Transneft" Company Mr. S.Grigoriev and Mr. A.Kalinin. We counted sincerely that all we need is to explain that nobody is against the oil sale to China or Japan and that this conflict is not necessary to anybody. There existed the hope that they will understand: the project has to be made environmentally friendly and not only economically efficient. I remember that Vice-President S.Grigoriev during that meeting told me: "It is obvious that you, Roman, do not understand anything in the construction of pipelines. Mind your own business! We possess the experience and technologies and everything will work". I can not say that it was convincing but still such a serious man make so assured statements...
In April 2005 our colleague from Buryatia Mr. Sergey Shapkhaev had informed us that prospecting works in the framework of the technical and economic assessment of the East Siberia - Pacific" took place in one kilometer from the Baikal shore. We could not believe in that! Buryat Roprirodnadzor (Service regarding supervision in the sphere of nature use) "having checked the information", issued the instruction about stoppage of the prospecting works. We moved to the place together with the inspection.
It was found that despite the instruction the works were done as hard as one can. The forest was cut down, the holes for the soil tests were bored, and the workmen said that they will construct exactly here because northward (on the route that was adopted by the Government) it as not possible to land people even from helicopters. Such an unexpected turn!
The serious struggle for the Baikal fate was started. We directly collided with the State machine that is completely saturated with corruption and nepotism...
Instructions about stoppage of works were not completed. The penalty for the company was simply funny. The public hearings did not give the results. The attempts to receive from the company the documents for the assessment became fruitless. The "Transneft" again used the so-cold "Pocket public". The numerous trials did not bring any benefit. And Company guidance just repeated the same: we function in conformity with the law, we have all necessary concordances, the public approves us and the scientists are for our activities.
The decisive round (the State Environmental Assessment of the project) came finally. We worked actively with the experts, passed them the information, prepared the offers. The majority of experts were not enthusiastic about the project and explanations of the "Transneft" representatives. On the 26th of January, 2006 during their final meeting 46 from 52 experts voted against the "East Siberia - Pacific" pipeline construction in 80 meters from the Baikal shore. It looked like a victory!
But... one of the experts called us and said that the Head of the Rostekhnadzor (Federal service on environmental, technological and nuclear supervision) calling the experts "the enemies of the people" declared that he will never adopt this conclusion. On the 3rd of February the work of the State Commission was prolonged for a month, there were added 38 "reliable" experts and they were divided into three groups. The interest was understandable: for the adoption of the positive decision it was necessary to have 2/3 of voices. As soon as two parts (except Baikal) did not have any claims, the Baikal group with its negative decision remains in minority.
The real hell had started: the experts that agreed to participate in our press-conferences received the threats by phone; those who vacillated received the transparent advices and so on. So the unprecedented pressure took place as a whole. The media sources violating the fundamental principles of the journalism refused to notice the problem. They published the accusing materials about environmentalists showing them as extremists and spies...
On the 3rd of March, 2006 the expected positive conclusion of the assessment had appeared although the Rostechnadzor had to violate the law again (probably not without the participation of the "Transneft" Company). They moved off the experts that did not agree to sign the positive conclusion.
It looked that now nothing will help us. We could act only using the legal methods, while our opponents did not trouble themselves with the law maintenance.
But... the people stood up. On the 18th of March Irkutsk "raised in rebellion". Thousand of people went out to streets. They demanded to stop humbling the Baikal Lake. Central media-sources again kept silent. The TV transmitted the voyage of V.Putin to Algeria where he signed the contracts on the weapon selling, or the subjects about the "United Russia" deputies that presented schoolchildren 3 personal computers.
All people that ere not indifferent to the Baikal fate united. At the end of March the protest actions had started. On the 1st of April the were youth actions near the "Transneft" headquarters in Moscow, on the 9th of April - again Irkutsk and again the thousands of people in the streets, on the 20th - 21st of April the wave of actions around the whole country.
The authorities tried to prohibit or to hamper the meetings and pickets using the absurd reasons and arguments. For example meeting in Moscow on the Vorobyovy Hills they wanted to prohibit because of the possible... landslides. In remote regions the organizers of the meetings were invited for the serious talks to the not less serious offices... But the "ice has been broken"!
As a result the red marker of the President had appeared on the conference in Tomsk on the 26th of April. He conducted another route of the pipeline on the map - as a minimum in 40 kilometers from the lake. All those who presented agreed silently.
I do not want tell fortunes what was the determined in this situation. I simply want to bow to people that said: "Enough!" that founded courage to go the streets and to express their opinion. First of all it was a victory on themselves. Because the indifference kills! I know that the pipe was turned by those who said "No!" to it. It was we and you. All together we saved Baikal and not the President at all!
Roman Vazhenkov