The 30th session of the regional Council of Deputies of the 26th convocation discussed the improvement of rural settlements.

Other issues of life in the Vitebsk region were also not overlooked. The northern region of Belarus has to solve many complex problems in various fields every year. And it should be noted that the residents of the Dvina region are mostly coping with this successfully.

"The Vitebsk region ranks first in the republic in the rating of territorial development," said Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies Alexander Atyasov, reporting to the people's elected representatives on the activities of the presidium and the current state of affairs.

Alexander Egorovich noted that the measures taken last year by the authorities and all economic entities to increase gross regional product, raise wages, and stabilize the financial and economic situation of enterprises allowed for an increase in the regional budget and the allocation of substantial funds for socially significant expenses. The budget of the Vitebsk region for 2013 was approved taking into account the fulfillment of socio-economic development forecast indicators in the amount of 13,665 billion rubles (123 percent of the previous year's level). District and city councils of deputies fully exercised their legislative right to introduce local taxes and fees, and increase land and property tax rates. This will allow for an additional attraction of about 200 billion rubles.

The active involvement of unused property in circulation can also increase revenues to local budgets. According to Alexander Atyasov, as of January 1, there were 245.8 thousand square meters of such buildings and structures in communal ownership in the region. By the end of the year, they must find an application – this is the requirement of the President of the Republic of Belarus.

The head of the legislative body of Pridvinye spoke about what has been done and what still needs to be done to improve the demographic situation, about the work on preserving historical and cultural heritage, and the development of sports facilities. But he particularly focused on the implementation of the Program for the Improvement of Rural Settlements in the Vitebsk Region for 2012–2015. This document, which has no analogues in our republic, provides for a whole set of measures designed to make even the remote corners of our native land beautiful and cozy.

– 160 thousand linear meters of fences were erected and repaired, over a thousand small architectural forms were installed, – Alexander Egorovich listed. – Order was established at more than 1200 public cemeteries, a thousand trees were planted, and about 75 thousand flowers.

The transformations also affected many private households. By the way, urban sponsors made a significant contribution to the improvement of the village. Enterprises and organizations assigned to specific territories provided assistance in removing woody and shrubby vegetation, demolishing dilapidated houses, installing fences, repairing facades, and cleaning up illegal landfills. In addition, funds were allocated for the purchase of trimmers, building materials, the production of small architectural forms, and the equipping of children's and sports grounds. Novopolotsk residents helped rural residents most actively.

However, the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, member of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Kosinets, who was present at the meeting, emphasized that the solution of improvement issues should not be solely entrusted to sponsors. Everyone should contribute to the common cause, so that the situation encountered in the Tolochinsky district does not repeat itself. While the townspeople were working, local residents of working age were sitting idly on a bench... Of course, such an attitude is unacceptable.

The head of the region believes that the process of rural revival should not be stopped. It is necessary to put in order the roads leading to the villages, to develop infrastructure in order to attract the population there.
Alexander Nikolaevich also spoke about the tasks that the residents of the Dvina region will have to solve in the near future.

– 2013 is the Year of Thrift. But it is also the year of modernization of our enterprises, – the chairman of the regional executive committee addressed the deputies. – Vitebsk region needs 17 trillion rubles to modernize industry. We will pay special attention to the development of machine tool construction, energy, machine building, and the implementation of the Innovation and Investment Development Program.
It is required to continue the reconstruction of dairy farms, further increase the contouring of fields and achieve an increase in crop yields in order to obtain 1 million 100 thousand tons of feed grain necessary for the further development of the agro-industrial complex.

There are many problems to be overcome in the construction sector.
– For January-March, according to preliminary estimates, only 50 thousand square meters of housing will be built, but it should have been 150 thousand, – said Alexander Kosinets, emphasizing that to change the situation, approaches to the work of this industry need to be changed.

The governor noted that it is possible to reach the salary level of 750-800 dollars in equivalent by the end of the year, but this will require effective work of all enterprises and organizations of industry, the agro-industrial complex, the construction industry, and the social sphere without exception.

Lilia IVCHENKO, "Vitebsky Rabochiy".