2016-12-09
Schist stone and timber collection rules will get simplified from Protected Areas of Tusheti. Applicable package of amendments to the legislation, which has been drafted by the Ministry of Environment will be approved at the Executive Government Meeting today.
As noted by H.E. Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia, amendments to the legislation will be enforced from January 1, 2017.
Prime Minister recalled his meeting with local population of Tusheti, who expressed their concerns about being challenged by considerable bureaucracy when willing to extend their households or constructing new housing.
"Therefore, today we are considering the initiative of the Ministry of Environment of Georgia to find a solution to this problem. It is a package of amendments to the legislation, entitling the local residents of Tusheti to benefit of the simplified rules on the collection of schist stone and timber in a shorter time-frame and for affordable prices from the Protected Area of Tusheti from January 1, 2017. This process should be subject to tight control indeed, so as to avoid the potential abuse of this decision. On the other hand, it is essential to simplify this process to maintain the historic image of the houses and small hotels in Tusheti and develop them with the same model as the authentic residential or tourism infrastructure" noted the Prime Minister of Georgia.
Prime Minister's Press Office