In the framework of the World Habitat Day it was held the international seminar “Problems of sustainable development of cities”.

    Cities are the incubators for development of civilization, but it should not be forgotten about the burden of social problems that arisen together with this purpose?, - with these words Mr. Marat Zagidullov, the Head of the Executive committee of municipality of the city of Kazan, began the seminar. Therefore the main task is the development of resources, laid both within the structures themselves and directed from the outside.
    Often governments in small and middle cities have not adequate security for realization of their projects, continued the subject Rajivan Krishnaswami, Senior Urban Finance Advisor of the Cities Alliance, World Bank program. The way out for those not metropolitan settlements is creation of the cities union, the uniform net.  The purpose of the World Bank grants, allocated for the needs of municipalities, is receiving of nonexpert system of financing, transparency of tax outflows.
    Mr. Marat Khusnullin, the Minister of Construction and housing and communal services of Tatarstan, told about the way how to solve one of the most acute problems of the city - increase of housing conditions. For the years of working in the republic of the Program of dilapidated housing liquidation, 315 high-rise buildings were built for 32 thousand families. This allowed to reduce the wear and tear of housing fund in Kazan up to 40-50 interests (in Russian this activities make 60-70%). But unfortunately the question of thorough repairs in republic still remains acute. Means, assigning by the budget, are not adequate, although it is planning that already this year 1 billion roubles will be allocated for these purposes in the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan.
    Such factors as absence of general layouts of many settlements, engineering infrastructure at the territories allotted for building are hindered the growth of housing construction. Individual investors are just not able to solve all these problems, the state support is needed.     
    The Mayor of Budennovsk Nikolay Liashenko also opened this problem in his presentation. Private entrepreneurs are unable to invest the means to the social infrastructure; therefore support of small-scale business is purchase of sites and conducting engineering communications by the state. Monopoly on the housing and communal services market is inadmissible, municipal property should be passed to the private hands. In this case only our cities will become attractive for investments.
The Head of the Global urban observatory of UN-Habitat Mr. Eduardo Moreno told about the activity of observatories on monitoring of city development and opportunities of influencing the processes of municipal self-government on the basis of the analysis of the data, received in such observatories. It is planning the creation of the observatory in Kazan, which will become the largest observatory in Russia.
    Princess Zahra Aga Khan, the representative of Aga Khan Foundation (France), noted that bodies of local authorities should know how to avert situations of crisis. Hence, it is necessary the development of civil and pluralistic society, this is important for modern cities under conditions of active migration of people. This is one of the priority subjects of UN-Habitat.
    The mayor of Yelabuga Mr. Ilshat Gafurov told about the prospects of construction. ?In August 2007 the city of Yelabuga will celebrate its thousandth anniversary. This remarkable event has an important social and economic meaning not only for people of Yelabuga but also for all who is involved in the fate of our city and proud of the culture and history of its region. To 1000 anniversary of the city we are planning to finish the number of important for the city of Yelabuga constructions: new bus terminal, river port with developed sea front, track and field room and stadium, Attraction Park, psychoneurological boarding school and retirement and invalid home. Central region hospital serving the people of nearby regions will be anew built up. Many other vital and barest for people of Yelubuga objects will be built and restored.
    In solving many questions we, first of all, count on support and understanding of leadership of the republic, bodies of local self-government, public associations, Russian entrepreneurs and all people of our republic?. 


    Also at the seminar it was held the presentation of awards of Building and Social Housing Foundation to Tafi Monti Adler, Executive Director of housing company of Johannesburg, (SAR) for providing poor families with habitation and to Aga Khan Foundation for Building and Construction Improvement Programme in Pakistan. Awards were presented by the Director of BSHF Diane Diacon.











Gulnur Khafizova, ?Kazan news?
Photos of Yuriy Krasnov

04.10.2006

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