PM says state will give more money for ecological heating

Ostrava, North Moravia, March 7 (CTK) - The Czech government will give 20 million crowns for the repplacement of old boilers with environment-friendly ones in the Moravia-Silesia Region this year, Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS) said on his visit to the area Thursday.

The region is ready to provide 20 million crowns this year and the government will give the same sum.

The Moravia-Silesia Region, where admissible dust limits are often many times exceeded, is one of the worst polluted areas in the whole of Europe.

The pollution is caused by industry, traffic and airborne pollutants from neighbouring Poland and also by boilers in family houses.

That is why the state in cooperation with the region provides inhabitants with subsidies to replace outdated boilers with modern ones.

Since last year some 200 households in the region have replaced boilers thanks to the subsidies.

In the first call, 20 million crowns were provided and another 40 million were offered in the second call. Now a third call follows.

Necas also announced in Ostrava Thursday that the state will pay the whole cost of the demolition of a prefab house in Frenstat pod Radhostem, north Moravia, which was destroyed in an explosion and a consequent fire, claiming six lives and injuring 11 people.

The explosion was probably initiated intentionally by an inhabitant of the house who had years-long disputes with other inhabitants.

The government first said the state will cover only one third of the costs while the rest was to be financed by the town and the Moravia-Silesia Region.