Categories
Journalistic Survey
Articles
Reportage
Analitic
Photo Reportage
Exclusive
Interview
Foreign Media about Georgia
Editorial
Position
Reader's opinion
Blog
Themes
Children's Rights
Women's Rights
Justice
Refugees/IDPs
Minorities
Media
Army
Health
Corruption
Elections
Education
Penitentiary
Religion
Others

Vanished 939 700 GEL

May 2, 2011

Manon Bokuchava, Kvemo Kartli

The population of the village Aghtaklia of Gardabani region is concerned – how safe it was to build houses near the river Mtkvari. Due to abundant sediments, the river Mtkvari has flooded and put 9 houses in danger. The water has destroyed several crofts.

“We cannot stay at home fearing that the water can destroy our houses,” – state the residents.

Humanrights.ge had unofficial information that the government had allotted thousands of GEL since the year of 2008 for strengthening the shores in the village Aghtaklia.

Khanakhmed Garibov is one of the residents of Aghtaklia, the current deputy head of Gardabani local government. He states that the Ministry of Environmental protection transferred money “in the past.”

“Yes, the money was allotted in the past. This money was spent on the building of dike on the shoreline of Mtkvari in Aghtaklia,” – states Garibov, - “Unfortunately. It is not enough. The dike needs to be prolonged by 540 meters. This will solve the problem. We plan to start the shore-strengthening works in May. According to the decision of our Governor, as soon as the level of water decreases, we will start large-scale works. The Ministry of Regional Development has already allotted 300 000 GEL. This money is not enough, but the government has promised to help more. We are also planning to change the river-bed of Mtkvari. The water was flowing to the direction of Aghtaklia up until now. Now we are working to direct it towards Rustavi.”

We talked to the press service of the Governor of Kvemo Kartli regarding the money received from the Ministry of Environmental Protection for the village Aghtaklia. We were interested to see the list of all the money spent on the problem of the village Aghtaklia including the year of 2008.

“In 2008, the Ministry of Environmental protection allotted 270 000 GEL for building the dike in Aghtaklia. The Governor supervised this issue and positively evaluates the works. This time the problem did not concern the dike. The river changed its bed at different spot. Except for this 270 000 GEL, no more money has been transferred for shore-strengthening works in Aghtaklia,” – stated Khatuna Mamardashvili, the representative of the press service of Davit Kirkitadze, the Governor of Kvemo Kartli.

Mamardashvili thought that humanrights.ge considered the dike built in 2008 to be a problem. In reality, we were interested in a different issue, particularly - #73 decree of Georgian government.

According to this decree, 939 700 GEL has been allotted for the shore-strengthening works in Aghtaklia from the reserve foundation on February 25th of 2008:

“Regarding the allotment of money from the reserve foundation of the Georgian government for the shore-strengthening and flood preventing works

1. In order to conduct the shore-strengthening works of rivers and prevent floods, the Finance Ministry of Georgia (N.Gilauri) allotted 3 800 000 GEL from the reserve foundation according to the Georgian law on the State Budget of 2008 of Georgia for the following municipalities: Akhmeta, Tsalka, Gardabani, Tsageri, Ambrolauri, Lentekhi, Ozurgeti, Zugdidi, Ninotsminda, Aspindza, Kareli, Gori, Mtskheta, Dusheni and Baghdati:

a) Lagodekhi – 54 000 GEL (Lagodekhi forest reserve, Matsana Valley);

b) Akhmeta 138 000 GEL (valley of the river Ilto);

c) Tsalka – 48 000 GEL (village Gumbati, river Gumbati);

d) Gardabani – 939 700 GEL (village Aghtaklia, river Mtkvari);

e) Tsageri – 220 000 GEL (village Orbeli, river Lajanuri – 130 000 GEL, village Chkhutula, river Tskhenistskali – 90 000 GEL)

f) Ambrolauri – 1 200 000 GEL (village Chrebalo, river Rioni  - 200 000 GEL, village Khidikari, Bichashvili district – 280 000 GEL, village Ghviara, river Rioni – 720 000 GEL;

g) Lentekhi – 227 000 Gel (village Tekali, river Tskhenistskali);

h) Ozurgeti – 300 000 GEL (city of Ozurgeti, river Achistskali);

i) Tsalenjikha – 51 800 GEL (village Lia, Pakhuloni bridge);

j) Ninotsminda – 62 000 GEL (Paravani Lake, village Poka);

K) Aspindza – 6 000 GEL (village Oshora, Oshorula Valley);

L) Kareli – 260 000 GEL (village Kvenatkotsa, river Ptsa);

M) Gori – 137 000 GEL (village Tedotsminda, river Liakhvi);

N) Mtskheta – 5 000 GEL (village Galavani, Usakhelo Valley);

O) Dusheti – 91 500 GEL (village Mleta, river Aragvi – 43 500 GEL, village Shatili, river Arghuni – 48 000 GEL);

P) Baghdati – 60 000 GEL (Sairme, river Tsablaristskali)”

This is the text of #73 decree of government. At the end of the document it is written that the supervision of these works is the duty of the deputies of the Presidents in all the corresponding regions.

The Governor of Kvemo Kartli does not talk about these issues. The press service of Davit Kirkitadze assures that the Ministry of Environmental Protection has spent 270 000 GEL on Aghtaklia.

It is not clear what the money allotted from the reserve foundation was spent on. The only result is the dike built on the shore of Mtkvari.

Nobody talks about the “old” 939 700 GEL allotted from the reserve foundation of the government. The only comment on this issue was given by the Governor to the journalist of Rustavi 2 with the flooded Mtkvari as a background: “Everybody is safe now. We did everything we could for this moment. The money will be allotted from the reserve foundation and this problem will be solved once and for all.”

Human Rights Center wait for more explanations from the Governor of Kvemo Kartli on this issue.

Photo :“Gardabnis Matsne”

News