How do Polotsk residents envision the further development of their district?

When starting the program development, local authorities called on the residents of Polotsk to take an active part in its creation in order to combine the energy of ideas to determine the key directions of the region's development. The residents responded enthusiastically to the call, identifying the most pressing issues and sending dozens of proposals to the governing bodies. The majority of them concern the arrangement of a more comfortable environment, the creation of conditions for the realization of human potential, and the enhancement of Polotsk's prestige as the oldest city in Belarus, a significant historical, cultural, and spiritual center of the country.

Taking into account public opinion, a package of measures was prepared, which has been submitted for consideration to the regional executive committee as a basis for further work. After evaluation and approval, the compiled document will need to be coordinated with the relevant ministries and departments and submitted for signing to the Council of Ministers by November 1. For all the ideas to be implemented, specific executors and sources of funding must be clearly defined for each measure of the program.

In general, as explained by the Deputy Chairman of the Polotsk District Executive Committee, Alexander Kolodynsky, the set of proposed measures includes 39 items. The first block contains a number of measures from the Comprehensive Program for the Development of Polotsk for 2008-2012 that were not fulfilled due to lack of funding. Among them are the completion of the overhaul of the "Rodina" cinema and the "Spartak" stadium, and the commissioning of an extension to the children's art school.

The prospect of solving the most pressing issue – the reconstruction of the former House of Officers, which has been empty and decaying for a long time – has been determined. Previously, its premises were planned to be given over to a city history museum or a cultural complex with a concert hall. Now, it is proposed to transfer the building to Polotsk State University for the placement of a military department or faculty, which will allow graduates to receive the rank of lieutenant, enhance the prestige of the university, and expand opportunities for young people, including graduates of the cadet school.

The second block of measures addresses the most urgent problems of today. For example, in the new, intensively developing Airport microdistrict, 20-30 thousand square meters of housing are commissioned annually, but the necessary social infrastructure facilities are lacking. In particular, it is proposed to build a polyclinic and three preschool educational institutions there, so that residents can receive quality medical care on-site and send their children to kindergartens located near their homes. It is also planned to continue the repair and reconstruction of the road and street network and courtyard areas in all microdistricts of the city.

The third section of the program outlines preferences that can be granted to Polotsk, taking into account its rich history and current significance for the Republic of Belarus, based on the experience of Orsha and some other regions of the country. For example, it is proposed to exempt enterprises established in the district during 2021-2025 from profit tax, reduce their percentage of transfers to the Social Protection Fund, and provide benefits for customs duties on equipment imported during this period.

– Our task is to attract new players to the region and create the most comfortable environment for their activities, to interest them in opening new enterprises, which, thanks to preferences, will have more opportunities for new construction, launching production, and faster implementation of investment projects, – emphasized Alexander Kolodinsky.

Analyzing the current state of affairs, he noted that the economy has managed to maintain positive momentum despite the problems caused by the coronavirus epidemic. The district is operating profitably, wages are increasing monthly, and growth is observed in indicators such as industrial and agricultural production, fixed capital investment, and the volume of construction and installation work. The implementation of the proposed set of measures will give an impetus to the further progressive development of Polotsk region, improve the standard and quality of life of the people, and enhance the investment and tourism attractiveness of the region.

"Vitebskiye Vesti". Photos are from open sources and are for illustrative purposes only.