In the Chancellery of the Government, on 14 November today, the Prime Minister of Georgia discussed with the Government members the process of fulfillment of the 18-month program. As assigned by Grigol Mgaloblishvili, each ministry presented a report of the works done for the past two months and of the works being done now.
"The core objective of the Government is to successfully conduct the 18-month plan. Two months have passed already and colossal amount of works have been performed. 5000 capital houses have been built. Still there is much to do. Adequate living conditions must be created for all those who were affected by the war, by the Russian occupation," Grigol Mgaloblishvili said.
The Prime Minister asked each minister to report on the works performed by their ministries.
Minister of Internal Affairs Ivane Merabishvili:
"I'd like to report that the construction of residential houses for internally displaced persons is drawing to a close. 90% of the houses have been completed. We believe that as various communications, water, gas, electricity and roads are provided, an intensive accommodation process will commence at the end of the month and end by 20 December. I am sure that all of this will be done transparently so as to ensure maximum justice. At the same time, I'd like to say that 2000 residential houses are being built and most of them have been finished in Gori, Kartli, Khashuri and Kaspi Regions, the territories where the Russian occupants stayed for a few days and damaged the houses of the local residents. Except for a few dozens of houses, which are dangerous to enter at this point. In particular, in Ergneti Village and Nikozi Village. Those, whose houses were badly damaged and cannot be repaired in a short time, will be paid compensation to buy alternative homes. The process of distribution of allowances has been completed. I hope that the accommodation of internally displaced persons will be completed soon and each of them willo meet the New Year in their own homes, whether built by us or purchased with the compensation paid by us."
Minister of Refugees and Accommodation Koba Subeliani:
"The refugees accommodated to the government-built homes will find furniture, articles of daily necessity, kitchen, bedroom and guestroom sets as well as other household items. The inventory was purchased by the state and fully delivered to the place of destination. Now the inventory is being set up and these houses are awaiting families to move in."
We are ahead of the schedule of works and will keep the pace to meet the deadline. The people accommodated there will find a little amount of foodstuffs. Each of them will get at least 200 Lari in order for them to decide on their own what type of products to buy and use the money at their sole discretion. We could have diversified the list of the inventory but left the matter to the people."
Minister of Education and Science Gia Nodia:
"There are about 3800 pupils in the IDP families accommodated in 26 areas. We have already determined how many pupils should go to which school. Now we are working to make sure that each of them has conditions for education. In some cases, it requires some cosmetic repairs. It will be necessary to supply 4000 desks to the schools, as often the space is available but desks are not. Buses will be allocated, as in a series of cases the schools are located 3-5 km off the settlements. Some schools will have to work in two shifts. The schedules will be drawn up. We are also working to make sure that the teachers from the occupied regions are employed at the schools where these pupils attend the education process. In Tserovani where there are 1200 pupils, we will have to build a school in the future. Meanwhile, they will be apportioned to the schools nearby. We are sure that each child will go to school and acquire the necessary education."
Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Goga Khachidze:
"There are no problems in supplying firewood for internally displaced persons and others affected by the war. Firewood was supplied everywhere in due time, under a daily control. After the accommodation process kicks off, we are absolutely ready to supply firewood to wherever there is a need for it."
Deputy Minister of Energy Irma Enukidze:
"I'd like to say that the electrification will be completed by 20-25 November. Gasification works will be completed by 1 December. As for the energy bills within the territory occupied by the Russians, the months of August and September have been paid in full. Now we are working with Energy-Pro Georgia for the provision of information to the Ministry of Energy so as to calculate the figure for October. We plan to present the question at the next Government meeting."
Minister of Agrarian Affairs Bakur Kvezereli:
"To those who returned to their homes after the war, the government has cultivated 8000 ha land. Now sowing is underway. Highly yielding wheat seeds are being sowed. As for the state's assistance to the new settlements, we are now deciding on arable lands. We also intend to provide tractors to them. To implement the program, we mobilized 300 units of machinery from the regions and cultivated these lands. The process will continue as long as weather permits. The plowing of the 12000 ha land will be completed within the next few days. The project is implemented as part of the American aid."
State Minister for Regional Administration Davit Tkeshelashvili:
"In certain villages, there are problems in terms of water supply. We intend to complete all these works by 15-20 December. In fact, we have to build an entirely new infrastructure to make sure that the settlements have no problem in water supply. In coordination with the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs, the local government is working hard to address all the problems in terms of irrigation to make sure that all the problems that have already cropped up and may crop up are settled by the beginning of the relevant season."
Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs Aleksandre Kvitashvili:
"Wherever the population returned to Gori Region and adjacent areas a few weeks ago, all the medical facilities and outpatients clinics are operating without interruption. This is not the case with Karaleti that was fully destroyed. A clinic will be built in Tserovani as the current outpatient clinic in Tserovani cannot handle so many people. There will be a medical facility in every IDP settlement. The current medical facility will be strengthened or a new one will be built. We need to employ doctors near these settlements. All those affected by the war and receiving free medical care will be provided with continued medical care on an inpatient as well as outpatient level. The Social Subsidy Agency will work on the lists jointly with the Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation and the Public Registry. We have the precise lists of who will settle where. One phase of transfer of funds has been administered. The same holds true with social allowance and medical insurance. Free medical care will be maintained until social insurance packages and vouchers are distributed."
In conclusion, Prime Minister Grigol Mgaloblishvili commented: "one critically important objective for each government structure is to conduct the employment process in the new settlements where the accommodation process will start soon. This will be my assignment to all the ministries. Maximum attention must be showed to make sure that we provided the affected people with new jobs."
Press Center of the Chancellery of the Government of Georgia