The fight for comfort: when the problems of residents of the Orekhovo microdistrict in Vitebsk will be resolved
When the deadlines for connecting houses to the central water supply network were postponed once again, future новоселы expressed strong protest.
– We are not quarrelsome complainants. We just want to move into our housing, built with personal and state funds obtained through subsidies and preferential loans, as soon as possible. This is a normal desire for young families. To solve our problems, we have been contacting various authorities for many years. For reasons unknown to us, the deadlines for certain works are constantly being postponed. We have realized that this could go on indefinitely, – said a mother of many children, **Anastasia**, expressing her attitude to the situation.
A Vitebsk resident's family of five was forced to settle in a built house without water supply and sewage. Before that, they had to live with her mother in a 30-square-meter apartment. Anastasia can vividly describe in detail how she and her husband have to carry water half a kilometer every day, use an outdoor toilet, and fetch water for irrigating the garden from the nearest puddle. A family with a one-and-a-half-year-old child has been experiencing such "charms" for several months, and a neighbor's family, also with young children, for a whole year. And if it weren't for the constant appeals to various authorities, according to them, they would still be without electricity and gas.
– The construction of infrastructure proceeds at a snail's pace. Our appeals became a trigger for the builders. We appealed – something was done; we didn't appeal – everything stood still, – claims the Vitebsk resident.
The developers' last request concerned the laying of 84 meters of domestic sewage. The deadline for completion is the end of May.
– We waited, June began, and there was no progress. We started raising this issue again, – explains Anastasia. – Representatives of the city executive committee and the Capital Construction Department came to find out what we want this time. It seems like they are haggling with us. We understand everything: builders have a lot of work, especially before the upcoming major city events and holidays. Resources are diverted to more important matters. But we also want to meet the upcoming events with at least water in our homes.
– They promised to build 84 meters of sewage network – and they built it, – argued the head of the Capital Construction Department of Vitebsk, Artur Strod. – Now citizens want water connection. It is impossible to launch the main water supply network without sewage and hydraulic tests quickly. The scope of work is too large: more than 450 wells need to be cleaned alone. The realistic completion date is July. But several families insist on having at least water supplied. We will resolve this issue too, and as an exception, we will allow Vitebskvodokanal to make a connection for several subscribers to supply water without sewage in the coming days.
A connection has already been made to Anastasia's house, but there is still no water. The water supply at the neighbors' houses turned out to be defective in two places. Now Vitebskvodokanal workers will eliminate the malfunctions. And again, the issue is left unresolved indefinitely.
The other day, in the evening, the residents gathered at the final bus stop to decide how to proceed. The correspondent of "Vitebskiye Vesti" also arrived. Honestly, I didn't expect to see so many young people with children. More than a hundred people. It turns out they all live here and hope that their hardships will finally end.
We found Anastasia's husband, Dmitry, on the street with their one-and-a-half-year-old son, Vladik.
– Although we live without a proper road and water, children are much better off here than in the city, – he emphasized.
Neighbors joined him. Alla helps her daughter's family with household chores. Despite the lack of water, they have set up two greenhouses.
– Where do you get water for irrigation? – I ask.
– We collect rainwater, – I hear in response. – If we were given water, it seems we could live.
– But what are we to do with our plots that went underwater after the road was built?
Two more owners offered to see it with their own eyes. Indeed, the raised road embankment, along with a ditch for water drainage, rose a meter above the flooded plot.
– How can one build here? There was no water until the road embankment was made. A reservoir appeared on our side. And yet, the construction deadlines are approaching, – said the parents of future developer Igor, speaking about their pressing concerns.
Neighbor Anton found himself in the same situation.
– Last year, there was no water here. And now it’s a swamp where ducks swim. Removing bushes and adding fill is not a problem. It’s just unclear where to drain the water? You can see for yourself, – he said, spreading his hands.
These are the problems of individual developers. As for the general issues, they are known. First of all, water is needed.
– If possible, we want a phased connection to the water supply network, even without sewage. We are not sure that we won’t be deceived this time either, because we don’t see any activity from the builders and water utility workers. It’s surprising that an excavator is working on the road so late today. They usually finish by 5:00 PM. We need guarantees. If we are still not connected to water, we reserve the right to express our pressing problems to the head of state in a video address, – people said at the impromptu meeting.
COMPETENT OPINION:
Alexey Geroev, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee:
– I am well aware of the situation with the construction of engineering and transport infrastructure facilities in the area of the new individual residential development Orekhovo. This issue is under control not only in the regional executive committee but also personally by me.
Yes, there were issues with the project documentation, as well as a shortage of labor and capacities of contracting organizations. Currently, almost all contractor efforts are diverted to preparing facilities for the XI Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia. At the same time, the majority of problematic issues have been resolved, and as promised, all work, except for asphalt paving, will be completed by July 30 of this year, and possibly earlier. The construction of infrastructure facilities ensuring the minimum required level of engineering equipment for land plots will be completed: electricity supply networks, water supply networks, and the street and road network (streets with carriageways provided with gravel-sand mixture surfacing).
As of today, the district is supplied with electricity and gas networks, and water supply and sewage networks have been partially commissioned.
Currently, for the 4th stage of construction, the general contractor, "PlissaStroy" LLC, is addressing issues with the installation of external water and sewage networks, performing inspection and cleaning of wells, and installing trays and manhole covers. Approximately 60 more wells need to be cleaned. Incidentally, during their cleaning and inspection, unauthorized connections were discovered in the sewage networks, which resulted in damage to the constructed sewage network. Rectifying these damages also requires time.
Connection to the water supply networks is possible now, and to the sewage networks – after the commissioning of the 4th stage of construction and the transfer of costs to the balance of the operating organization. The estimated timeframe, as I noted, is July 2024.
Regarding the 5th stage of construction, the commissioning complex "External Water Supply Networks. External Domestic Sewage Networks, Pumping Station No. 3" was commissioned in May of this year. Currently, work is underway to transfer costs to UP "Vitebskoblvodokanal". The main construction and installation work for engineering networks in the area of new individual housing development Orekhovo has been completed. It remains to address the remarks of the operating organizations, carry out commissioning and adjustment works, and transfer the networks to the balance of UP "Vitebskoblvodokanal". The completion deadline is by the end of July.