What are the reasons for the low pace of housing construction in the Vitebsk region?

Housing construction is one of the priority areas of the region's socio-economic development. The main task is to ensure the growth rate of square meters in accordance with the needs of the population. In January-March of the current year, 70.6 thousand square meters of housing were commissioned in the Vitebsk region from all sources of funding, or 17.2% of the annual plan. The target set by the Government for the first quarter has been met. However, the pace of construction remains low. The reasons for this situation and what needs to be done to change it were discussed at a regular meeting of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.

According to Anatoly Diulin, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, who oversees the construction industry, there are several reasons for this. Firstly, there was a low readiness of ongoing projects due to insufficient and untimely financing in 2013. In addition, due to the high cost per square meter, citizens are reluctant to build commercial housing, and the significant difference between the credited and actual cost of housing also affects this. Anatoly Vladimirovich also noted the insufficient concentration of workers at the sites, which depends on the heads of construction organizations. At the same time, the outflow of personnel abroad has decreased, and builders are now staying to work in their homeland.

In total, 410 thousand square meters of housing are to be commissioned in the region this year, including at least 250 thousand from state support, for which 1 trillion 460 billion rubles of preferential credit resources are provided. It is planned to build 16 apartment buildings under state orders. Many districts have met the target for the first quarter, but some regions, such as Gorodoksky, Dokshitsky, Lepelsky, Dubrovensky, and Shumilinsky, have not commissioned even 10% of the planned amount. Members of the Regional Executive Committee urged the leaders to rectify the situation as soon as possible.

The issue of commissioning apartment buildings under construction with exceeding normative deadlines remains relevant. In the Vitebsk region, there are currently four such buildings.

– They are all subject to unconditional commissioning no later than July 1, which the President emphasized. These are two houses in Orsha, a 206-apartment building on Chapayeva Street in Vitebsk, and a 40-apartment building in Postavy. I urge the heads of the regions to keep this issue under special control, – noted the Deputy Chairman of the regional executive committee.

Work with individual developers should be more active. Often, citizens are in no hurry to officially register completed houses, as a result, the budget does not receive funds in the form of tax payments. At the same time, according to Anatoly Diulin, one should be more attentive to those who wish to build individual houses, assist them in allocating timber and transport, not hinder them, but explain and support them. However, there are also situations when individual developers in a number of regions buy land plots with dilapidated or abandoned houses and engage in self-construction, for which they are subsequently fined. To prevent this, people need to be informed about how to act according to the law, and control should be established, primarily from the village council. In addition, it should be remembered that it is provided for by law: if the new owner does nothing with the house and the plot within three years, then this property can be confiscated from him.

First Deputy Chairman of the regional executive committee Gennady Grebnev drew attention to the fact that the decision of the regional executive committee on the construction of housing by enterprises for their employees is not being fulfilled. So far, only OJSC "Vitebsk Carpets" has expressed a desire to build an 80-apartment building. Gennady Ivanovich noted that the heads of enterprises interested in labor resources should reconsider their approaches. In the regions, agricultural organizations are building 60 residential buildings, for the financing of which loans from "Belagroprombank" are provided.

Criticism was directed at design organizations, of which there are currently over 100 in the region, both state-owned and private. At the same time, up to 90% of the developed projects are sent for revision and elimination of comments from the state construction expertise. It is necessary to improve the quality of work, increase the personal responsibility of each employee, and enhance professional skills.

Summing up, Gennady Grebnev called for order to be established at construction sites, for quality work, and for the creation of solid, defect-free houses.

– Our task is to build housing rhythmically. People who have trusted us and are investing their money must know exactly when they will receive the keys to their apartment, – emphasized Gennady Ivanovich. – There are things that do not require money – these are discipline and responsibility. If they are absent, then the presence of finances will not save the situation.

Olga Maslovskaya, "Vitebskiye vesti"