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Khashuri Locals Complain: Poor Sewage System

May 1, 2008

People are afraid to say a word when they meet the Minister.

Saba Tsitsikashvili, Gori

“Great Investment Environment,” it was assessment made by the government in Khashuri where residential buildings were painted and roofs were repaired in keeping with the times. “We will repair roofs, and then supply the building with gas, then we will paint it and everything will be smooth,” said chairperson of the Khashuri District Municipality Board during his meeting with the residents of Stalini Street # 32. He tried to avoid the meeting of the discontent people with regional governor and Davit Tkeshelashvili, the Minister of Regional Management.

Davit Tkeshelashvili stopped in Gori on his way to Khashuri to view the high waters of the flooding of the Liakhvi River. Local and central government has been fighting overflowing river for a month already, albeit without any success. It was nearly one month ago when Tkeshelashvili and Ministry of Environment visited Gori Marke, an area enclosed by a 27-meter-long embankment. They inspected what repairs had been made to hold back flood waters. It was claimed that. “Gori residents will not have to face danger in future as we have reinforced the embankment very well…” a week later the water crashed the pier of bridge and ruined its foundation. Earlier to this most recent disaster, water had destroyed the anchor of the bridge on the Tbilisi-Senaki highway.

For the most part the level of traffic is heavy on the central motorway and streets in Gori. Experts say that fewer loads are transported and it will reflect on the economical situation of the country. If we consider the situation that Liakhvi River is permanently destroying the foundation of the bridge in the centre of Gori, the increased number of cars moving over it will cause serious problems for locals. Large trucks have completely destroyed the electricity and communication wires in the city. The trucks tore the cables for trolleybuses in several places in Gori.

State Minister stated that 500, 000 GEL has been allocated to repair the bridge over Liakhvi River. Lado Vardzelashvili, Regional Governor, told that the money will be spent on the repair-works of the foundations of the piers on both right and left banks of the river. The situation is difficult as the work must be carried out in planned fashion. To start working only on one side the river will divert the flow and damage the opposite side. The situation is very urgent; if this bridge also fails, then Western and Eastern Georgia will be disconnected. 

Davit Khmiadashvili, Gori District Governor, said in his conversation with the Human Rights Centre that if the bridge over the Liakhvi River collapses, then the bridge located close to the village of Variani will be used; though it is also damaged.

Davit Tkeshelashvili and Lado Vardzelashvili left Gori and went to Khashuri, a small town in Shida Kartli region. They met people in Stalini Street where residential buildings are located. The most of the people from that block of flats worked in the factory during the Communist Regime and the workers were lodged a hostel. Currently, the hostel does not have proper sewage system and the walls are half destroyed.

The government has painted the facades of the buildings and built a stadium in front of the house. The government also works on supplying the residents of these buildings with gas. One woman who tried to approach the regional governor surrounded by journalists, finally said that she wanted to ask the governor to allow her to supply her house with gas under an installment plan. Soon the governor also took part in the conversation, called the official from the local government and told him to pay attention to the woman’s problem.

Another local resident, Khatuna Kozhoridze, said it has not sense if the façade is only painted and the sewage system is out-of-order inside the building; consequently, there are terrible unsanitary conditions in the house. Other residents also agreed with her and asked the journalists to tell governmental officials that they are grateful for the work they have done in the town but also asked to urge them to repair the sewage system in the houses.

Eter Gogoladze, one of the residents, was particularly grateful to the government. She said she is very glad with the attention the government pays to them. Soon, when high-ranking officials left the area, the people started to rebuke each other: “Why did not you say anything?” “Why did not you say a word? You are able to make a better speech”…etc.

Leaving the place, residents of the residential blocks of flats asked us to urge the government to repair the sewage  system in their homes.  As we have found out the newly-repaired roof on one of the houses has already been removed from the building by the wind and the rain started leaking in. Reportedly, roofs on 28 blocks of flats have been repaired in Khashuri and on 15 buildings are still being repaired. “Gomi 98” Ltd is implementing the repair-works of the roofs. “Iberia Ltd” is painting the facades; the company has already carried out the same work in Gori.
 

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