DUSHANBE, April 30, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- 600 families from ecological risk zones are expected to be relocated to safe places this year, according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection (MoLSP).

The source at a MoLSP said they would be relocated in accordance with a long-term plan of resettlement of households living in ecological risk zones.  The plan is designed for 2005-2015 and 53 families in Gorno Badakhshan, 80 families in Sughd province, 247 families in Khatlon province and 220 families in districts subordinate to center (RRPs) will be relocated from ecological risk zones to safe places this year.

The source noted that the national budget earmarked 2.6 million somoni for resettlement of families living in the ecological risk zones.  More than 166,000 somoni of this amount will be provided to these families in form of extraordinary grants and the remainder will be provided to them in a form of preferential loans for housing.