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PROBLEMS OF COMMUNITY AND PROSPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
24 July 2006
On July 21 Edward Aghabekian, the mayor of Stepanakert, gave a news
conference and presented a report on the activities of the City Hall in
the first half of 2006. The receipts of the community budget totaled
over 120 million as on July 20, whereas in 2004 receipts totaled
103 million. According to the mayor, it was enabled by anti-shade
actions, namely the collection of tax on land and tax on property was
improved. "The growth of return on tax was viewed in the context of
reduced government subsidies (by 30 percent). The rate of growth of the
GDP is rather high," said the mayor of Stepanakert. Edward Aghabelyan,
informing that the volume of building went down, because they had
to direct additional funds to summer salaries of teachers. Over the
past five years the collection of public duties (notary registration,
civilian registry) has gone down. The problem is that government
agencies are assigned to collection of public duties, which are only
then transferred to the community budget. The mayor believes that
collection of public duties will grow if collection of public duties
is decentralized, which would enable more transparency. Another
important problem for Stepanakert is water supply. June draught
gave rise to serious problems. "Last year five artesian wells were
dug and two were repaired, which supply over 9000 cu m water to the
community. We have estimated that if the infrastructure is improved,
the entire population of Stepanakert can be supplied with running
water, if not 24 hours than at least during half of the day," said
the mayor of Stepanakert. At present an additional pumping station
is prepared for operation in Aygestan. There are also problems with
the pumping stations inside the city. Every pumping station has one
pump instead of two. Besides, the pumps are not powerful enough. The
reserve fund of the government allocated 18.5 million drams to buy
new pumps. The mayor said a City Hall official has gone to Moscow,
and the new pumps will be delivered to the community within this week
and will be operated in August or in September.
NVARD OHANJANIAN. 24-07-2006
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
24 July 2006
On July 21 Edward Aghabekian, the mayor of Stepanakert, gave a news
conference and presented a report on the activities of the City Hall in
the first half of 2006. The receipts of the community budget totaled
over 120 million as on July 20, whereas in 2004 receipts totaled
103 million. According to the mayor, it was enabled by anti-shade
actions, namely the collection of tax on land and tax on property was
improved. "The growth of return on tax was viewed in the context of
reduced government subsidies (by 30 percent). The rate of growth of the
GDP is rather high," said the mayor of Stepanakert. Edward Aghabelyan,
informing that the volume of building went down, because they had
to direct additional funds to summer salaries of teachers. Over the
past five years the collection of public duties (notary registration,
civilian registry) has gone down. The problem is that government
agencies are assigned to collection of public duties, which are only
then transferred to the community budget. The mayor believes that
collection of public duties will grow if collection of public duties
is decentralized, which would enable more transparency. Another
important problem for Stepanakert is water supply. June draught
gave rise to serious problems. "Last year five artesian wells were
dug and two were repaired, which supply over 9000 cu m water to the
community. We have estimated that if the infrastructure is improved,
the entire population of Stepanakert can be supplied with running
water, if not 24 hours than at least during half of the day," said
the mayor of Stepanakert. At present an additional pumping station
is prepared for operation in Aygestan. There are also problems with
the pumping stations inside the city. Every pumping station has one
pump instead of two. Besides, the pumps are not powerful enough. The
reserve fund of the government allocated 18.5 million drams to buy
new pumps. The mayor said a City Hall official has gone to Moscow,
and the new pumps will be delivered to the community within this week
and will be operated in August or in September.
NVARD OHANJANIAN. 24-07-2006