VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
Vladimir Putin’s opening remarks:
Good afternoon, colleagues. As you know, earthquakes occurred in several regions of Siberia last September and December. The earthquake in September was of magnitude 5, and the one in December measured as much as 9.5 on the Richter scale in the epicentre. That was a very severe earthquake, as you understand. Very severe! Fortunately, there was no serious damage or victims. The disaster affected the Republic of Khakassia, Altai, the Krasnoyarsk and Altai territories, the Irkutsk, Kemerovo and Novosibirsk regions. The epicentre was located in the Republic of Tuva in both cases. These events affected over a thousand towns and villages inhabited by almost 6 million people. As I’ve already mentioned, there was no serious damage or victims. In this regard, I would like to thank the rescuers, doctors and other specialists who took part in the relief efforts.
Nevertheless, there is much to be done yet, much more than has been done so far. Although there was no serious damage or victims, many facilities were affected. Judging from the preliminary materials which I looked through while preparing for today’s meeting, there’s a need to provide additional aid for the Republic of Tuva. The republic was in the epicentre of the earthquake and was affected more than other regions. According to preliminary estimates, we will have to allocate about 400 million roubles to the Republic of Tuva. I request that these funds be first and foremost allocated to help the people and restore housing, as well as the infrastructure. Almost 1,000 houses and about 100 infrastructure facilities, including two thermal power stations and three bridges, need restoration.
Today, I would like to hear your reports on what is being planned for each facility and what else must be done, which and how many houses can be restored, what housing we can provide, and, certainly, special attention must be paid to dilapidated and hazardous housing.
I visited Novosibirsk yesterday, and its residents have addressed us with similar problems: they have lived in the barracks since the 1950s. The number of such houses is huge as it is a legacy of the past decades. In total, Russia has 3 billion square metres of residential housing, of which 60 million square metres are dilapidated houses. It was not until 2007 that we had the opportunity to relocate the residents and renovate such housing. I must say that about 12.5 million or 16.5 million people live in renovated houses all across the country, in the regions where this work was carried out. And we relocated almost 300,000 (about 250,000-260,000) people from hazardous housing. However, this is absolutely insufficient, and we must certainly continue this work.
Certainly, dilapidated and hazardous housing in earthquake-prone areas is a separate issue as we realise that it poses the greatest threat to people. We should develop a set of long-term measures. I mean the introduction of a control and continuous monitoring system in earthquake-prone regions – both at infrastructure facilities and in residential areas, towns and villages. At the same time, we need to create an emergency broadcast system. In this regard, I ask the Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief jointly with the Academy of Sciences to submit proposals on the establishment of an interregional Centre for the Forecast, Monitoring and Prompt Response to Emergencies on the Altai-Sayan Plateau. This is an earthquake-prone area, as we know. Modern seismic stations in the Republics of Tuva, Khakassia and Altai must be integrated in the centre. Such facilities must be fully equipped and staffed.
Let’s get to work.
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Comments and closing remarks by Vladimir Putin:
Remark: The Republic of Tyva is connected to two power lines, one of which was built in 1970 and the other in 1986. They are almost totally worn-out. The earthquake resulted in a shut down of 24 substations and lines causing a blackout in 12 villages and towns with a population of over 10,000 people. Therefore, the power suppliers named in the Energy Ministry’s report must consider allocating additional funds for repairs and restoration, as well as for laying an additional power line to Tyva for reliable supply.
Vladimir Putin: Good. As far as I can see there is no draft for this project at the moment.
Sergei Shoigu: There is a draft resolution, Mr Putin.
Vladimir Putin: A draft resolution?
Sergei Shoigu: There is a draft resolution, according to which the project is supposed to be funded from those 421 million.
Vladimir Putin: Yes, but the 421 million being allocated can only be used for the most basic essentials that people cannot do without. This aid is needed to help the people and for the essential upgrade of the infrastructure in Tyva. Obviously, this is not enough. I will ask the Regional Development Ministry and related agencies to draft a government decree and work it through with the Economic Development Ministry and Finance Ministry to avoid any pitfalls and make sure all the necessary funding documents are drafted. There must be a feasibility report on the infrastructure development, on road and bridge construction – on everything we have just seen and discussed.
This concerns dilapidated housing as well. The share of old housing in Tyva is six times higher than in other areas. We have just consulted with the presidential envoy. There is a limit for this year and we will have to think about what funds could be redistributed. These are exorbitant sums. The population is not that big, however. The percentage is not high and this aid could be tangible and quite efficient, especially for the buildings that were damaged by the earthquakes. As Mr Shoigu said, they are unstable and could be dangerous.
The same concerns Khakassia and the Altai Territory. We must collect data and analyse it altogether for the proposals to be based on facts. Again, we should not just state how much will be allocated here and there but be clear about what the money will be spent on.
The same concerns seismic resistance and centres that would keep the people informed of any ongoing changes. Such a centre must be established here, with a number of branches. As far as I can see there are some facilities of this kind but they obviously require renovation and more staff. So I would like the region’s officials to take note of what Academician Laverov said. If we send experts there they will need somewhere to live. Please take charge of this and we will help you if required. I think it is possible to find some housing, say up to ten flats. But the money – those 400 million – must be used to help people as soon as possible, to provide new housing in the first place. You still haven’t told me what you can do given this amount of money, what can be purchased in the [real estate] market, if you have one at all, and what will have to be built from scratch. This must be worked through. How much time do you need to draft this report?
Reply: I think the draft will be finished within two weeks.
Vladimir Putin: Good.
Remark: A great deal has already been done. Mr Putin, if you gave instructions to redistribute part of the money that we are currently using we could do it much faster.
Vladimir Putin: Which money?
Remark: The Sovetsky District housing and utilities funds.
Vladimir Putin: Alright. But report to me first on what you are going to redistribute and how.
Remark: Certainly.
Vladimir Putin: You can do it within two weeks along with the other report. Today is February 18. I expect the report by the end of the month or in early March, around March 5-6. Thank you.
