Kondoli – The Village Where The People Go Thirsty

Kondoli – The Village Where The People Go Thirsty

One third of the inhabitants of Kondoli, a village in the Telavi region are not supplied with water.  People claim that only a small part of the village is being provided with free water. There are a lot of families that dream of having drinking water. The population assured us that the local village administration and the regional government do nothing to assist the population.

On May 18th, the Kondolians addressed the head of the village administration, Elizbar Amuzashvili. The head of the administration admitted the village is experiencing some problems with the water supply; however, he blamed the lack of water in the village on financial problems and rids himself of any responsibility.

According to village inhabitants, although several electric pumps were installed in a bore-hole several years ago, the problems with the water supply have not been solved. The population claims they pay for the electricity used by the pumps, although they can hardly afford it.

“They have been promising us that they would solve the problems with the water supply for five years now. However, nothing has been done so far. We are being deceived just so we pay them money. We are fed up and can no longer stand it. Water is not a luxury - we will die without it. Our government cannot manage a proper water supply,” says Kondoli inhabitant Niko Gagushvili.

Part of the Kondoli population is concerned because they have to pay a lot for the electricity used by the electric water pumps. Due to their low income, making the payments is difficult for them.

“Only the high part of the village is provided with water. The electric pump was installed in order to solve the problem but it is getting worse. The price of electricity is so high that we can hardly pay for it. Why do we need a local or regional government if they cannot even make drinking water available to the population they govern?” asks Mzia Chidrashvili.

Another inhabitant of Kondoli, Tsitsino Chidrashvili, highlights that frequently people pay for the electricity but still have no water.

“All day long a person is cultivating their land; all this tired person wants is to drink some water and have a rest in the evening, but they remain without this essential. Although we pay to be supplied with water, we are not”, states Tsitsino Chidrashvili.

The head of the administration, Elizbar Amuzashvili, places responsibility on the ‘Telavi Wine Marani’ company. According to him, the company rents village land and is late in paying its bills.

“We are financed by the money gained from renting our land. The ‘Telavi Wine Marani’ company rents land on the territory of the village but fails to pay rent on time because it has some problems selling its products. At the moment they have bad finances, that is why they cannot clear their debts”.

The head of the ‘Telavi Wine Marani’ company considers Amuzashvili’s allegations as groundless. One of the owners of the ‘Telavi Wine Marani’ company, Kakha Zukakishvili, states that the company always pays the rent on time.

“We have no debts at all. The Taxation Bodies provide us with the current years tax calculations on June 1st, after that we pay our taxes twice a year; in August and November”, says Kakha Zukakishvili.

According to him, the ‘Telavi Wine Marani’ company has already paid part of the rent. He says:  “We have already paid part of the rent. We should not be blamed for the problems of the village and guilty people should not blame their faults on us”.

Meanwhile, the inhabitants of Kondoli are finally giving up hope of ever being provided with water.  The ‘Telavi Wine Marani’ company and the Kondoli administration, which fixes colored placards on the balconies of painted buildings, keep on arguing with each other. 

Veriko Kobiashvili from Telavi