MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. The Russian Ministry of Natural Resources suggests reducing limits of marine water conservation zones on Russian islands tenfold to 50 meters for the purpose of facilitating development of construction materials deposits on such territories. Amendments to the Water Code have already been sent to the Justice Ministry for preparation of a conclusion, the ministry said on Tuesday.

The Russian Water Code currently bans exploration and production of widespread mineral resources within limits of water conservation zones, whose width is 500 meters. Implementation of this norm of law results in impossibility of developing deposits already explored and booked at the state balance, the Ministry of Natural Resources said. The ban adversely affects the economy of the Sakhalin Region, particularly the construction sector using inert construction materials.

90% of sand deposits on the Sakhalin Island and 100% sand deposits on the Kuril Islands and up to 50% of construction stone deposits are located within limits of water conservation zones of seas. The majority of them are located in desolate locations and no alternatives for such deposits were found on the Sakhalin Island, the ministry said.

Impossibility to mine widespread mineral resources in water conservation zones of seas will later entail the need to deliver them from the mainland Russia or abroad, entailing cost escalation and longer timeframe of construction work, the Ministry of Natural Resources said.