Federal Budget Released $20.9M For Grozny Renovation In 2001

This year Russian authorities had allocated a total of RUR632m (about $20.9m) for the restoration of Grozny, the Chechen capital, of which about 80 per cent were already used. As RBC got to know from the Chechen government, these funds were spent on the renovation of 25 apartment blocks in Grozny. All of them will be ready for accommodation by April or May of 2002, thus replenishing the municipal housing fund by 89,000 square meters. According to Grozny Mayor Oleg Zhidkov, those, who previously lived in these buildings and were officially registered as their inhabitants, will be able to move to their apartments. Additionally, about 1,500 houses are currently being restored in several districts of Grozny, and 1,200 of them will be finished by the 1st quarter of 2002. Builders are also renovating 13 schools and 8 hospitals including the central maternity hospital and an ambulance center.