I. Metshin: “A complex long-term program for the development of settlements is needed”

(KZN.RU, December 21, Alsu Safina). Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, proposed to work out a comprehensive long-term program for the development of settlements in Tatarstan today at the XII Congress of the Association of the Council of Municipalities of Tatarstan. According to the Mayor, this issue is relevant not only for the capital of Tatarstan but also for such cities as Naberezhnye Chelny, Nizhnekamsk, Almetyevsk, and Bugulma.

Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the RT, Alexey Pesoshin, the prime minister of the RT, Farid Mukhametshin, the chairman of the State Council of the RT, and others took part in the work of the congress. 946 people from 956 municipalities arrived at the congress. At the beginning of the work, the participants voted for the early termination of authorities of Minsagit Shagirov, the chairman of the association “The Council of Municipal Formations of Tatarstan”. Ekzam Gubaidullin took this post, whose candidature was supported by delegates of the congress.

In his speech, Ilsur Metshin noted the importance of the republican programs for the development of municipalities. He also drew attention to the fact that there are 90 residential areas in Kazan, including villages. “Unfortunately, the quality of life in our settlements lags behind the average in the city”, noted I. Metshin and added that 200 thousand Kazan residents live in settlements, which is 20% of the city's total population.

Residents of the settlements are waiting for solutions to issues related to roads, transport, a street lighting, a water supply, the development of a network of water and electricity, and sewerage. “There are residential areas where we still cannot start a full bus service because of the roads’ condition”, said the head of the city. “Settlements Severny or Mirny are especially important where 36 thousand people live, which is comparable to the population of such cities as Aznakaevo, Zainsk, and Nurlat. There is no bus service inside these residential areas for the same reason, and people have to get to bus stops for hours”, explained I. Metshin.

The head of the city noted that attention is being paid to solving these problems. “Today, 8 rural clubs, 8 kindergartens, 3 obstetric points in remote residential areas of the city are built in villages with the help of the republic's leadership, as well as a medical outpatient clinic in the residential area Nagorny”, said the Mayor. “Over the past two years, six dormitories for district policemen have been built”. I. Metshin said that roads are built every year, the “Vodokanal” and the “Kazenergo” are trying to solve the most pressing issues at their own expense.

“Our main goal is to bring the standard of living in residential areas in line with the citywide metropolitan level”, marked I. Metshin. “However, the pace of improvement in residential areas lags behind people's expectations. Residents turn to us with a request to initiate a comprehensive long-term program for the development of settlements”. “Everyone understands that it is impossible to solve these issues simultaneously and asks for system solutions. We hope for the support of the republic's leadership”, noted Ilsur Metshin.

Another initiative is the development of the head-of-a-house institution in multi-apartment houses. “The experience of TSGs supported by republican grants has shown that territorial public self-governments have a huge potential for development but people need motivation for this work”, explained I. Metshin and asked the Council of Municipalities of the RT to organize this work.