S.Katanandov address to deputies
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Speech of the Head of Karelia in republican parliament has taken almost two hours, instead of forty minutes prescribed by the rules. Sergey Katanandov has acquainted deputies with the final report on results of the last year On Situation in the Republic, Performance of State Programs, Carrying out Internal Policy and External Relations of the Republic of Karelia.
"The main purpose of work of the government of the republic is improvement of quality of life of the population of the republic due to growth of economy," - the governor declared.
According to the Head of Karelia, last year in the republic there have been passed 102 laws, and reliable legal climate was created. Due to hard work of legislators the law On the Budget passed in due time.
"Last year incomes of the republican budget have made 15,2 billion roubles, that is 3 billion more than in 2005," - Sergey Katanandov said.
As the governor has noted, in general list of well-being among other regions of Russia our republic has achieved the 33 place. Rate of unemployment has not grown last year, remaining one of the lowest in the country equal to 3.3%.
Nevertheless, there's enough negative tendencies which the authorities of Karelia need to improve urgently. Among obvious defect of the last year there are sharp growth of transport and housing and communal services tariffs, which made more than 20%, and inefficient work of some enterprises.
"Tariffs grow at rates exceeding growth of incomes of the population," - the Head of Karelia has declared, - "Such situation is inadmissible! About 40% of enterprises in territory of the republic are unprofitable. In such regions as Kalevala, Pudozh, and Byelomorsk growth of unemployment is observed."
New apartments still remain unaffordable to the majority of citizens of Karelia. According to the governor, today there are more than 40 thousand families are on the habitation wating lists. On this parameter the republic lags considerably behind other regions of Russia where the housing problem is not so sharp.
"The Ministry of Construction is given a task to check up thoroughly activity of the building companies in the near future and to find out why cost of square meter houses in under construction is so unfairly high," - Sergey Katanandov has declared. - "Today the government has got powers to make it independently, without participation of Office of the Public Prosecutor."
Speaking of prospects of republic, the Head of Karelia has noted some high-priority tasks which authorities should solve.
"Improvement of quality of life of population of the republic should be achieved through implementation of national projects. It is the major resource for economic growth," - Sergey Katanandov told.
One of the most important tasks is improvement of health of population of the republic. According to the governor, this year it will be spent more than 100 million roubles to purchase medical equipment and implementation of actions of programs aimed at health protection.
"In 2002 we were the first region in Russia that accepted the republican program For Healthy Way of Life. It yields tangible results. Today every fifth citizen of Karelia is going in for sports," - the governor said. - "Sports is popular among schoolchildren and students. Spartak and Yunost stadiums in Petrozavodsk have been modernized."
The Government will pay much attention to ecological situation improvement in the republic. Implementation of far-reaching project Pure Water, aimed at improvement of quality of water supply in Petrozavodsk and other settlements will proceed. By means of the republican budget the network of trolleybus traffic in the capital of Karelia will develop.
The government will assign two hundred million budgetary roubles on development of hypothecary crediting programs in the republic. It is necessary to improve the sphere of education urgently, having done best to make it available and modern. Of course, it is necessary to work hard for maintenance and modernization of the housing and communal services enterprises.
"One quarter of municipal formations of republic today have no due material resources," - Sergey Katanandov has declared.
This year it is planned to attract more than 18 billion roubles as investments in economy of the republic, and the general level of incomes of the republican budget will grow and will make 16,3 billion roubles.
By the end of his speech the Head of Karelia answered questions of members of the parliament.
Dmitry Gordienko
Photo by Alexander Smirnov
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