On 10 January, the President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko took part in the ceremonial launch of artesian water from underground sources to supply Minsk with water. The ceremony was held at the new pumping station Shchomyslitsa. The head of state together with chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee Vladimir Kukharev and director of Minskvodokanal Fyodor Rimashevsky turned the symbolic valve and launched artesian water. The head of state noted that today there is a lot of talk about space, launching satellites and building nuclear power plants. But, according to him, the transfer of cities to water supply from artesian sources is comparable to these large-scale projects. "Providing Minsk with clean water is the greatest feat of the present generation," the President said.