One More Construction Dictated by “National Movement”

Maka Malakmadze, Adjara

In spring of 2010 so-called tower will be opened in Batumi construction of which will cost 29 million GEL. Families living next to the huge building protest the construction. Only several centimeters are left between their houses and the tower and it will damage their living conditions. Representatives of the Batumi Architecture department state that there is no violation in the construction.

“Is it right that they have not left even space for breathing?! Do they think we do not need to open windows in our houses?! What kind of laws do we have? When the president came here, we could not meet him – nobody allowed us to approach him. Local officials gave oral promises that they would leave some space between the tower and our houses but as you see they did not leave even one meter between them,” complained residents of Mazniashvili Street N 25.

Astonished citizens state that because of short distance between the buildings they cannot even install pipe for natural air. “Pipe of gas was led into our street but we cannot supply our houses with gas because they have not left enough space between the tower and the houses to enable workers to work in the area,” said Giorgi Piniantsi.

“Just see where they have made the basement! When they build a wall, we will not be able to open the window in the kitchen. We have built this house legally and have lived here for a long time,” said resident of King Parnavaz N 33.

Representatives of the Architecture Department of the Batumi City Hall state that construction of the tower is carried out in compliance with construction norms. “A building can be located on the cadastre line without any windows. If the old buildings were registered in accordance to the law and they had windows, balconies and doors, it cannot be considered to be an obstacle for the new construction in the area. Consequently, complaints of the neighbors are groundless.”

Last summer president of Georgia announced the idea about construction of the town hall square instead the building of Batumi public school N 3 on the territory of 3 600 sq. meters. The price of the project was 29 million GEL. Musical clock will be installed on the 16-floor building which will be 62-meter-high. At this stage the third floor of the building is being constructed.