Press-Release №29

 Questions with no answers

When residents of Staropromyslovski district get water?

            Inhabitants of several settlements of Staropromyslovski district of the city of Grozny still, even in several years after the end of active operations in the republic, are compelled to buy water from private people. Restoration of laying of new water lines, started last autumn, practically remains on the same place. Groups of workers spend several days in one place, then leave everything and move to the other "point". Thus, neither old, nor new sites are finalized and start-up of water is not made.

            "Last autumn in our settlement a solemn ceremony of opening of a water-pumping station was carried out. The leadership of the republic came to this event and we were told that within two months our settlement would get water, - an inhabitant of the settlement Zagriazhsky of Staropromyslovski district says. Everyone was very glad, because water in the settlement is portable and we have to buy it from private traders. But our pleasure, alas, has appeared to be premature".

"Two months have passed, and another two months passed, but we still do not have water. The head of the settlement administration approached various instances, but everywhere he received only promises. In reality, nothing happens, - the interlocutor says. - Several weeks ago finally workers of "Vodokanal" appeared. They brought techniques and started digging a foundation ditch and trenches for pipes. Then they started laying pipes on one of the streets, and then suddenly they left everything behind and went away. It was found out that workers had been urgently sent to repair a water pipe on Saikhanov-street".

According to the man, few days later workers, however, returned to the settlement and resumed their work. However, later they again were sent to the other site. Thus, repairmen were sent to the other "objects", at least, four - five times.

"They dug here trenches, and, actually, did not do anything else. Several days ago the new water pipe line was started up to check, thus no one was warned about it, and, as a result, many courtyards and even some premises were flooded with water, - he says. Three days ago, the brigade has disappeared again, they say that it is sent somewhere to Sernovodsk. And we should keep being anxious. There is no water in the settlement until to-day, so all trenches remain opened - neither a vehicle can pass, nor children can go outside, especially when it is raining".

Local residents are indignant by the fact that the administration of the district is not engaged in the solution of problems of citizens. "Recently the Head of our regional administration arrived here. He was accompanied by a heap of security guards and assistants. He asked where was such house and named the number of it. But this building is not in Zagryazhski area, but in the settlement of Stary. When he was explained this mistake, he was very surprised and asked: "And what, isn’t this the Stary settlement"? Can you imagine? The person, who during several years holds the position the Head of the district administration, does not know where this settlement locates. This superfluous evidence on how our district authority cares about ordinary people. How this person can hold such post, if he does not do anything for the people"? - the local woman in the settlement of Zagriazhsky starts being outraged.

Approximatel, the same situation develops in the neighboring to Zagriazhski settlements: Stary, Novy, Mayakovski, etc. Here one can see long trenches for water pipe and heaps of scattered ground, but no working brigades are present.

Many local residents believe that heads of works on restoration of water lines in Staropromyslovski district meaningly delay this process, constantly throwing workers from one place to another. Thus, they report to the management of the republic about enormous work carried out by them. "They replace pipes on some streets, on others - not. This fact is explained that the line in this area is fine, and there is no need replace it. But how can it be normal, if it did not function for 15 years? All pipes have rusted long time ago, but no one cares about their replacement. People say that officials make saving on pipes as well as, most likely, sell them, reporting that work is done properly. When this disorder will come to the end? – an inhabitant of Staropromyslovski district asks. When we will get water, if we will get it at all?"

16 May 2008

Information Center for CNO 

The press-release  is prepared and issued with support of Human Rights and Governance Grants Program at the OSI-Budapest.  The Institute is not responsible for the activity of the Information Center for CNO and material published on the organization’s website