Opening the meeting, Dmitry Medvedev stressed that there are numerous problems in the sector, while its efficiency has provoked many complaints from the public.
The meeting was devoted to the issues of housing management and reconstruction, resource control and the use of conservation technologies, the system of payment for services, as well as the state of utilities infrastructure in general.
Statistics show that over 4.5 million Russians live in dilapidated or dangerous housing; furthermore, this figure is clearly underestimated, Dmitry Medvedev said. Depreciation of housing and utilities infrastructure is more than 60 percent. The President also noted that up to 40 percent of residential buildings require capital repairs. In this regard, the President stressed the need to intensify efforts and seek additional sources of funding other than federal and regional.
Dmitry Medvedev proposed several measures to address the housing sector’s problems, including the preparation of integrated infrastructure development programmes, the creation of unified municipal databases to monitor the expenditure of resources and payments, and the introduction of energy efficient technologies and systems.
The President will issue a number of instructions based on the outcome of the meeting.
Before the State Council Presidium meeting, Dmitry Medvedev visited a number of housing facilities to examine several examples of the housing sector’s modernisation. In particular, the President visited the Syktyvkar Vodokanal municipal unitary enterprise, which implements an investment programme to upgrade water supply systems, and inspected a boiler house in one of the city’s residental districts. The President also visited a residential building, where he met with the Perekrestok condominium management.
In addition, Dmitry Medvedev held a working meeting with Komi Republic Governor Vyacheslav Gaizer, during which the development of the housing and utilities sector in the republic was discussed, as well as the implementation of programmes for the sector’s modernisation. The socioeconomic situation in the republic was discussed separately.
