Russia’s draft budget earmarks 232.91 billion rubles (2,4 billion rubles) in 2024 for the rebuilding and development of the new regions, Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities Irek Faizullin said in his speech at the State Duma lower house of the Russian parliament.
“The key task in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics and the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions is to make sure that our regions reach the average Russian standard of living,” Faizullin said. “Today, they’re probably the largest construction site in the country.”
According to the minister, it is planned to allocate 232.91 billion rubles for the rebuilding of the new territories in 2024, 205.8 billion rubles in 2025 and 214.8 billion rubles in 2026. Allocations for the road and utility infrastructure will amount to one billion rubles in 2024 and 0.4 billion rubles in 2025.
The condition of utility infrastructure in these regions leaves much to be desired. “This is what happens to a region if no money has been invested in it for three decades. When we cannot raise the pressure above three atmospheres as we pump in a heat transfer medium, it’s actually not a network, but perforated colander,” he said.
“The situation is practically ubiquitous in the the new territories. “We are implementing phased replacement of boiler houses, all networks, water lines, and sewage systems; energy workers are doing a tremendous job,” the minister said.*i*sb
