Komsomolskaya Pravda: “Vladimir Putin: 'It’s the money that should reach students, and not just information about it'”
Vladimir Putin: "It's the money that should reach students, not just information about it!"
Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin briefed Vladimir Putin on the launch of the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP (hydroelectric power plant) protection facility during last night's government presidium.
"The facility will prevent even hypothetical threats for the HPP and nearby villages in case of overflow water," Sechin said.
"What will the project cost?" Putin asked.
"The project is expensive," Sechin answered vaguely.
"Just how expensive?" Putin insisted.
"I'll report on concrete figures later," Sechin said.
"Next time, calculations should come first. After that, work should be conducted. Analyze and report," Putin said.
Then Putin asked Natural Resources Minister Yury Trutnev about the environmental bills on water and waste discharge currently being reviewed by the State Duma. Trutnev said that five of six bills passed the first reading. Only one State Duma deputy voted against.
"Were business representatives involved?" Putin asked.
"We are not inventing but adapting European standards," Trutnev said.
Putin was dissatisfied. He often insists on getting clear answers from his ministers.
"Did you work with businessmen?" Putin asked again.
"We did!" said Trutnev.
Next, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov reported on the results of the Russia-EU Aviation Summit in St Petersburg.
"Passenger flow to the European Union and back grew 16%," Ivanov said.
The number of aircraft doubled in the past seven years, Ivanov said. But the term "national transporter" has been replaced by "European transporter."
"This is a concession on our part," Putin said.
"We are losing nothing," Ivanov said.
"Do not say we are losing nothing. This is our concession," Putin said.
Minister of Healthcare and Social Development Tatyana Golikova dwelt on the programme of building 24 prenatal clinics. Most clinics have been launched, although the centres in Perm, Saratov and Kurgan are behind the schedule.
"Tell these three governors to come and report on their hang-ups to me personally," Putin said.
A 9% increase on student allowances was also discussed. Putin was briefed on the telephone conference between the ministry and institutes, and Putin was told that the information had reached the students.
"It's the money that should reach students, not just information about it," Putin said.
The main subject of the presidium was preparations for the upcoming winter. According to Putin's data, 99. 4% of residential homes are ready for the winter; there are reserves of gas and oil. Putin warned that being 99% prepared should not be seen as reassuring.
"Management companies still have a lot of questions to answer," Putin said. "It is not acceptable when dubious offices and dealers collect payments for utilities. Such dealers are only after money. We should restrict prices for utilities – a position based on principle – and it shouldn't even be cause for discussion."
Putin also spoke about the creation of a federal service for accreditation to unite all specialist complexes and laboratories. In this way, the function of the bureaucracy can be reduced, helping "the law-abiding businessman operate his business instead of wasting his running from one state official's cabinet to another," Putin said.
Larisa Kaftan
