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Government Used Rural Program for the Pre-Election Campaign

June 15, 2010
Marika Vacharadze

The Rural Program was launched in Baghdati, Vani and Samtredia districts in Imereti region in February of 2010. All projects were finished before the municipal elections. In comparison to the previous year, the funds of the project were doubled. The speed of the activities also increased. Local officials spent three months on the launch and completion of all projects. Last year, the number of projects and the funds were less and the activities continued till the end of the year.

The heads of communities and single mandate candidates are in charge to implement concrete projects. They were ordered to supervise the projects officially and unofficially before the elections; most of those projects were to be finished before May 20.

Samtredia district interim governor Zviad Nikuradze stated that similar directives were not received from “above.” “The rural program had no result last year. There were villages where the programs were not successful because of carelessness. Now we decided to finish everything before May 20. However, nobody has ordered us to do it. It was wish of the population.”

It is difficult to find out whether the population really wanted to finish the rural programs before May 20.

There are several villages in the Tolebi community in Samtredia district. The residents of Zemo Tolebi, Vazisubani, Koreisubani and Bughnara had one common problem. They did not have drinking –water supply for 15 years. The purchase of 200-meter-long pipe almost resolved the water problem in Zemo Tolebi. However, Vazisubani, Koreisubani and Bughnara villages are not supplied with drinking-water yet.

In Vazisubani, the water-system of Tolebi-Vazisubani-Koreisubani needed reparation and villagers could not do it with their resources. Thus, they hired individual entrepreneur “Akaki Telia” which had to implement the work from March 29 till May 15 for 12 888 GEL. The same individual entrepreneur took responsibility to repair the system in Koreisubani and Bughnari too for what the company had to receive additional 2 000 GEL. We tried to get in touch with “Akaki Telia” but could not. We were told the company had hired all former workers of the District Water Department; so nobody doubted in their professionalism.

Activities have been launched in all three villages to resolve the problem of drinking water. But this problem turned up impossible for the government to resolve before the elections.

Baghdati district administration received 382 110 GEL from the state budget for rural projects. This sum was doubled in comparison with the last year. In 2009, Baghdati district received only 196 412 GEL. 52 projects were implemented in 11 communities within the project. Last year, 58 projects were funded. However, the projects which were funded this year are larger than the previous ones as the local officials claim.

The local authority evaluates the results of the last year rural program as normal. However, they say that all projects were finished only at the end of the year. This year, the priorities of the villages were easily selected. Last year, the private companies were in charge to implement the activities but this year the villagers took responsibility of them. In several villages of Baghdati district local entrepreneurs implemented 5 projects. The local population was hired for the work and the problem of unemployment was resolved for several months for the villagers.

Almost 40 % of the allocated funds were spent on the roads. This time, only gravel was put on the roads. 90 402 GEL was allocated for street lights, 39 555 GEL was allocated for bridges and footbridges; 28 314 GEL was allocated for the rehabilitation of drinking water system. This problem was particularly urgent for mountainous villages of Baghdati district where people were hardly supplied with drinking water. 11 035 GEL was allocated for sport play-grounds. 53 192 GEL was envisaged for other activities.

Baghdati district interim governor Davit Tabushadze will clarify what projects were funded under “other activities”: “Under this category we implemented the activities which did not match the list of the scheduled projects. In several villages people requested the project which was not on the list of 27 scheduled projects.”

The state allocated 573 409 GEL for the implementation of the Rural Program in Vani district. The same program was funded by 266 339 GEL last year. Besides the increased amount of funds, implementation of all projects in Vani district lasted till the end of the year. However, this year all projects were finished before the municipal elections.

In 2010, 125 projects were implemented in 14 communities in Vani. The villagers chose their priorities at the village meetings. The protocols of those meetings are in the Vani district administration, which provide information how each village chose their priorities.

In Vani district, 101 979 GEL was allocated from the total 537 409 GEL on the reconstruction of the drinking water system. This problem was equally urgent in the village of Tkelvashi in Zedavani Community, in the village of Dutskhunshi in Kumuri community, in the village of Isriti in Dikhasho community, in Pereta Community, Salominao community, Kvertskhedi district in Ukhuti community, and vuillages of Zeindari and Gora communities. As we learned, nobody discussed the priorities in these communities. “It is good what they have done, because 200 families are supplied with drinking water without problem. But there are a lot of other problems in this village?” said a resident of one of those villages.

Vani district interim governor Besarion Mikeladze said that rural programs were implemented in the villages by the local population. Not a single company or private person has implemented any activities within this program. However, local authority purchased the materials and delivered them in the village center. The residents of the Kumuri community said the officials of the local authority personally delivered the pipes for the reconstruction of drinking water system and the villagers implemented the work.

Before the municipal elections, almost every project was finished in Vani district. Installment of street lights in Dikhashkho community was planned for June 30. Head of economic and infrastructure department of Vani district administration Hamlet Bregvadze said they managed to finish all activities before May 30.

The population of Baghdati, Vani and Samtredia districts hope for future and think the state will fund similar project next year too. Next time, they will select other priorities in the village.

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