During an on-site extended meeting of the Presidium of the Council of the Republic in Shumilino, Vyacheslav Durnov, Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, emphasised the importance of issues related to citizens' and legal entities' appeals. He noted that working with the public is a priority and is under constant control, with all actions of authorities being aligned with current legislation.
According to Vyacheslav Durnov, decisions made by local authorities are people-oriented and based on direct dialogue. Over the nine months of 2024, local executive and administrative bodies received over 28,000 appeals, a 9.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
As part of public engagement, personal receptions for citizens and representatives of legal entities are conducted, including outreach events. Citizens actively resolve their issues locally, and deputies of local Councils play a significant role in this process by participating in monthly receptions and meetings with the public.
The main concerns of residents relate to the repair and maintenance of housing stock, as well as the street road network. Road surface restoration requires significant budget expenditure, and repair plans are also formulated considering citizens' appeals.
In 2024, the region plans to construct 41 iron removal stations to provide the population with quality drinking water. Vyacheslav Durnov noted that transferring water supply and sewerage facilities, currently on the balance sheets of agricultural organisations, to specialised organisations is a complex task. In this regard, he proposed considering the possibility of legislative simplification of the transfer process for these facilities without the need for legal documentation, which is practically impossible under current conditions.
Natalia Kochanova, Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, supported the initiative to transfer iron removal stations, stressing that their maintenance should be carried out by qualified specialists to avoid the deterioration of facilities in the future.