THE COST of cleaning up pollution left over from Estonia's Soviet era may reach 400 million kroons, or 25.6 million euros.
The Estonian Environment Ministry has begun planning a clean-up of over 30 industrial and military areas which were badly polluted during the Soviet period, the daily newspaper Eesti Paevaleht has reported.
The ministry hopes the 400 million kroon bill will be footed by the European Cohesion Fund, a grant system that assists the poorer members of the European Union.
More than 300 polluted areas have been identified across Estonia, and include old asphalt plants, airfields and fertilizer storage facilities.
It is feared the pollution may affect water quality, which would potentially drawn EU sanctions.