The President
held a meeting on disaster relief measures following wildfires
in April 2017, which damaged a number of towns and villages
in Buryatia and the Irkutsk Region. The meeting
participants discussed the progress in reconstruction work
and compensation payments to the wildfire victims.
August
4, 2017
09:00
Tankhoi,
Republic of Buryatia
1 of 5
Meeting
on wildfire relief in Buryatia and Irkutsk Region.
After
the meeting, Vladimir Putin had a conversation with Vadim Semenov,
Mayor of Cheremkhovo, Irkutsk Region.
*
* *
Excerpts
from transcript of meeting on wildfire relief in Buryatia
and Irkutsk Region
President
of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon,
Colleagues,
we all know very well that last spring this region suffered from wildfires.
Residential areas in Buryatia and the Irkutsk Region were
affected. Fire destroyed houses and outbuildings.
We
discussed relief measures on May 15 at a meeting
in Irkutsk. Today I would like to hear about the progress,
including your reports on compensation payments to the people
affected by wildfires.
I found
certain discrepancies in my papers and would like to ask
my colleagues a question regarding the actual amount
of the funding allocated. As far as I know, due
to time-consuming bureaucracy, the money was provided later than
planned. But the question itself is how much is required for rebuilding
the houses and other buildings in the first place –
and how much was allocated.
This
concerns Buryatia as well. The village of Cheremushki is well
known. I spoke to the residents during Direct Line.
My understanding is it is the only affected residential area
in Buryatia. The Irkutsk Region had more victims.
See
also
August
4, 2017
August
4, 2017
The Ministry
of Construction, Housing and Utilities gave me one figure while
I see that the planned funding is different. I would like
to get to the bottom of this and find out what is
going on with this money.
The Government
received all the necessary documents on August 2
and the money was transferred to the regions. I would
like to hear from the regional heads whether this money will suffice.
I also would like the Emergencies Minister to report
on the estimated damage. I also requested the presence
of representatives from municipalities. I would like to hear
your opinion on the situation. Let us begin.
Let
us start with Mr Tsydenov. Please.
Acting
Head of the Republic of Buryatia Alexei Tsydenov: Mr
President,
On April 28,
2017, as many as 28 structures, including 20 houses, burnt down
in Cheremushki. Nineteen of these houses were occupied, by 49
people, or 19 families. One house was used as a sports centre.
We are supporting all 19 families and not only with new housing.
At the meeting in Irkutsk, you also gave us instructions
to take measures regarding outbuildings. Therefore, we are helping with
those too.
(Alexei
Tsydenov reported on the construction of new houses
and compensation payments. During a videoconference with
the village of Cheremushki, Oksana Trishkina, head
of the municipality that includes Cheremushki, answered the President’s
questions. Great Patriotic War veteran and local resident Ivan
Goloshchapov also participated in the conversation.)
Ivan
Goloshchapov: Mr President, we know very well that when a disaster
happens, you are always with us, the people.
When
you gave instructions to the republic’s officials, they immediately
started acting on them. All necessary help was organised,
and the people received financial aid. The area was cleared
and prepared for construction. Construction materials arrived timely,
and the construction of new houses began. My house,
for example, is already finished. I have already moved
in and am very pleased and grateful to all
the construction workers and our republic’s authorities.
We
received great help from volunteers. Emergencies Ministry volunteers were
exceptionally helpful. We want to express our sincere gratitude.
Next
to me is the head of our village. She has been with us since
the very first day of this emergency, almost like a mother with
her children.
Mr
President, we want to ask you something. We really hope that you will run
for president during the next election. We will be very happy if you
do.
Thank
you very much.
Vladimir
Putin: All right, I will think about it.
Can
you tell me: the house in the background, who does it belong to?
Oksana
Trishkina: It is the first house completed. It belongs to Olga
Fedorets from Cheremushki. Further down, you can see more houses. The next
house belongs to this man next to me, Leonid Shevtsov.
Vladimir Putin:Yes, Mr Shevtsov, please take the microphone. You have seen
your house. Are you pleased with the quality?
Leonid
Shevtsov: Yes, I am. We have found a common language with builders,
and they instantly respond to all our comments. Sometimes we help
them, too. So everything is all right. I am happy with such a short
period of construction.
Vladimir Putin:All right, I wish you happiness in your new homes
and hope everything will be completed properly.
Alexei
Tsydenov: Credit should be given to our volunteers. One guy is standing
there. Volunteers cleared everything that was burnt. They drove away 53 lorries
with whatever was left after the fire. People got their belongings
together themselves.
Vladimir
Putin: Volunteers deserve special gratitude. Thank you for your
sympathy and warm attitude to people.
I hope
all work will be completed on time and with the required
quality. Supervision is necessary in any case. I respect builders,
but this work should be completed and its quality checked.
<…>
Vladimir Putin: Do any of those present here have more questions?
Vadim
Semenov: Yes, Mr President. May I?
Vladimir Putin: Go ahead please.
Vadim
Semenov: Vadim Semenov, Mayor of Cheremkhovo, Irkutsk Region.
I apologise,
but this is not about fires, our current subject. I will distract you
a little from sad thoughts. I will say a good thing. Cheremkhovo
is one of Russia’s oldest coal-mining cities. This year our city turns
a hundred years old, and this is a great anniversary
for us. Plus we will celebrate the 120th anniversary
of the start of coal mining on this territory. There is also
the national holiday, Miner's Day.
Mr
President, I am asking you on behalf of our residents.
I addressed you during Direct Line, but I understand you were mostly
concerned with problematic issues and we are not raising them. We would
simply like to invite you to come to our city
of Cheremkhovo for its 100th anniversary.
I am
sorry for the self-conceit, of course. I even prepared
an invitation for you but crumpled it slightly out
of excitement. I understand you will not come because you are very
busy, but please send a message of greetings to our people.
Vladimir Putin: All right.
Vadim
Semenov: In 1921, Vladimir Lenin wrote a letter to Cheremkhovo
miners. For almost a hundred years, every office, every corner
of our city has had a stand that reads “Lenin’s letter
to Cheremkhovo miners.” Send a message, and I promise you
that in a hundred years there will be a stand in every
corner of our city that will read: “Vladimir Putin’s message
to Cheremkhovo miners on the city’s 100th anniversary.”
Vladimir Putin: All right, I will check on this.
Vadim
Semenov: Mr President, people mostly talk to you about problems,
and I would like to thank you for such an important
measure as the relocation of people from unfit housing. All our
residents are deeply grateful to you. Our city lives a very hard life
although we have done a lot of useful things
for the country. Regrettably, few people paid attention
to the problems of our people prior to you. They lived
in the barracks built in 1932 almost up until now. Carrying out
your executive order, we demolished over 60,000 square metres of rundown
housing and people received new flats. Thank you very much.
As for what
the veteran said, I agree with him, although I am not
a veteran but a resident of a more modern Russia. We would
like you to be the leader of our country. You can always rely
on us. We will support you.
Thank
you.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.
Anything
else? Do you have more questions on this subject – fires? No.
To sum
up, everything should be completed. The final stage is always
the most difficult part of work. It gets cold quickly here.
The climate is severe, and hence this is my message
to the heads of the regions and municipalities –
it is necessary to see this work through. You should not relax until
the last victim is content. And we will check on it
in Moscow.
Thank
you. All the best. Goodbye.
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