Residents of Temirtau have expressed dissatisfaction with the reconstruction of the square near the city administration, whose cost has risen to 1.5 billion tenge, and pointed to more pressing problems of the city, reports the website infohub.kz.
According to KTK TV channel, citizens are puzzled why the estimate for repairing the square near the city administration has sharply increased from 600 million to 1.5 billion tenge. They also reminded the authorities of worn-out utility networks, lack of asphalt on the outskirts, and the construction of a park in the old part of the city that began three years ago.
“We were supposed to have roads on Tsentralnaya, Samarkandskaya, and Yuzhnaya streets, where utilities were laid four years ago. We've been waiting, but again refusal. Again 'no money.' There is no money in the budget. But there is money for that (repair of the square near the akimat - ed.). Why is it that contractors are quickly found there, everything is quickly fenced off, but for us it's been dragging on for the fourth year,” said activist Natalya Mukhina.
Work is already in full swing on the square. They started traditionally with dismantling paving stones. In addition, it is planned to plant shrubs, arrange paths, install benches, lighting, and small architectural forms. Temirtau officials had to justify themselves to residents for the rapid reconstruction and the allocated amount. It turned out that the project was developed five years ago, and then its cost was 600 million tenge. But since then, prices have risen, and now the reconstruction will cost 2.5 times more. However, officials assure that they treat budget funds with care and even refused major repairs of the fountain for the sake of economy. The akimat also assured that there will be enough money and resources for communal problems.
“We are currently carrying out work on communications in the city, on heat main networks. Budget funds have been allocated, contractors have been identified, work is underway. Here (near the akimat - ed.) repairs were necessary. The park here was very old, everything was in a deplorable state. And indeed, it is a large area. Many people relax, walk, and spend time with children here,” explained Duman Serikov, deputy head of the housing and communal services, passenger transport and roads department of the Temirtau akimat.