ROSTOV-ON-DON. Feb 21 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian President Vladimir Putin's envoy to the Southern federal district, Viktor Kazantsev, ordered on Thursday to step up state control over the use of agricultural and general-purpose aviation, a spokesman for the district's aerial transport department told Interfax-Military News Agency.
The step is included in the set of additional security measures being taken in southern Russia, the spokesman said. The region hosts a huge number of installations extremely dangerous to the environment, including the Volgodonsk nuclear power plant, water reservoirs, enterprises of oil, gas and chemical industries.
In accordance with the envoy's order the aviation units of the federal district stepped up protection of airports and airfields and toughened control over aircraft flights. All aircraft will undergo enhanced technical servicing regularly.
The envoy instructed local departments of the Federal Security Service and Interior Ministry to control the order's implementation.