According to the information from the news agency Interfax, Rosprirodnadzor has finally won a legal dispute against the company "Romodanovosakhar," the largest sugar manufacturer in the Volga region, regarding compensation for damage to the Insar River. The legal proceedings lasted since 2022 and concluded with a ruling by the First Arbitration Appeals Court, which ordered the company to pay over 1.3 million rubles (approximately 16.1 thousand dollars) for polluting the water body.
The violation of environmental legislation was detected in November 2021: during a field inspection, an emergency discharge of inadequately treated wastewater was recorded. Analyses showed an increase in the concentration of harmful substances downstream from the discharge point. Despite the company's efforts to explain the resources spent on reducing the damage, the court acknowledged the guilt and ordered to compensate for the harm. The ruling has entered into legal force.
The firm "Romodanovosakhar" is controlled by Alexander Merkushkin. In 2024, the plant's turnover amounted to 8.9 billion rubles (approximately 110.5 million dollars), with a net profit of 1.3 billion rubles (approximately 16.1 million dollars).