RIGA, April 15 (LETA) - The government is planning to allocate around EUR 22.2 million of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) financing for category 3 shelters in a total of around 570 facilities, Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis (New Unity) told reporters on Tuesday.

As reported, Saeima in mid-March passed in the first reading draft amendments to the Civil Protection and Disaster Management Law, which stipulate mandatory construction of emergency shelters in certain groups of buildings, as well as rules on the establishment, adaptation and use of shelters in case of war or disaster.

At present, there is no Latvian legislation in force regulating the establishment, adaptation and use of shelters in the event of military conflict, war or disaster.

The Interior Ministry's amendments stipulate that there will be three types of shelters.

The first category of shelters is for protection from the blast wave, chemical warfare agents, ionizing radiation, radioactive dust, shards and splinters. Category 1 shelters will be equipped with appropriate filters and equipment capable of providing a breathing environment.

Category 2 shelters will ensure protection against blast wave, exposure to ionizing radiation, shards and splinters. Unlike Category 1 shelters, Category 2 shelters will have thinner walls and will not be equipped with filters for protection from chemical warfare agents or provide a breathing environment.

Category 3 shelters, on the other hand, will be created by adapting existing facilities or parts thereof, and they are designed to mitigate the effects of blast wave, debris.

The bill provides that Category 1 shelters will be constructed in new buildings intended to accommodate Category A and B critical infrastructure and where personnel is expected to be continuously present on a daily basis.

Category 2 shelters will be constructed in new apartment buildings more than five floors high, general educational establishments, vocational educational establishments, universities, hospitals and other public buildings with a total floor area of 2,500 square meters and more.

Category 3 shelters will be created by adapting buildings' basements for the purpose.