Take Me Home Never-Fixed Country Road

Gulo Kokhodze, Adigeni

Rehabilitation funds of the road between the villages of Varkhani and Tsakhani was envisaged in the municipality budget for both 2007 and 2008. However, the rehabilitation has not been completed yet and the work may still continue into the future, even into 2009. The reason for the delay is the lack of responsibility on the part of the road construction company. Local authority, population and building companies have made contradictory statements in the matter.

The version of the population

“They started repairing the road; brought in graders and left the work uncompleted.“They started repair works when it made no sense. They preferred to gravel the road in frost because the road froze and people could notice nothing. It looked like it has been repaired,” said people residing in the villages of Kharjami and Tsakhani who have been constantly tortured having to travel over the bad road for many years.

The length of the road is 1.5 kilometers.Perspective of the Local Authority

Zurab Chilingarashvili, former Adigeni District Governor, explained why the repair works started in bad weather in the village of Tsakhani. “The winter came very early and the snow also came early this last year.”

The governor made comments about the unexpected situation. “It was because of bad weather that building company asked to postpone the time completing he necessary repairs. However, it was noted that they must renew the activities on May 1, and if they are one day late, we will consider that they have violated the terms of the contract and we will address the Prosecutor’s Office in order to recover our money. Then it will be necessary to then announce the tender once again; the new winning company will then continue with the road repairs.”

June is nearly over but the rehabilitation works still has not started.

“Four letters are sent to the firm “Lusani” but they have not yet replied. The director of the firm was candidate in the parliamentary elections in Lagodekhi district and asked us to postpone the start of the activities,” said Zurab Chilingarashvili.

The former governor stated that the documents are sent to the Financial Police. “The Financial Police demanded to see accounting documents and if they consider it necessary then the case will be sent to the prosecutor’s office.”

Version of the Building Company

Tbilisi based company “Lusani” was carrying out the rehabilitation works of the Tsakhani-Vakhani road.

“In parallel to the road repair-works the water system of the village was also rehabilitated. It was impossible to conduct both works together, so we stopped our work,” said Lasha Paliani, manager of the Lusani Ltd.

The manager stated as soon as the water system is rehabilitated that they will continue their work. “We almost completed our work and now we have to bring only 120 cubes of meter gravel.”

However, the manager of the Lusani did not comment about financial issues. “I do not know what sum is being discussed.”

Neither former district governor mentions the amount of allocated funds.

“The money was transferred to the “Lusani” and they should either repair the road or return the money,” said Chilingaraishvili.

The argument is going on but the road is still damaged. The population and the government are furious. The future will show whether the rehabilitation of the road with the length of one and half kilometer will be completed or not.