The situation in the last year's earthquake zone in the north-western regions of Azerbaijan is critical, was noted at today’s presentation of the headquarter of civil society "Kura".
The report presented by the Coordinator of Staff, Oktay Gulaliyev, showed that the situation is the same just like after the flood in Kura river in 2010 – the same level of corruption, embezzlement and other abuses. http://www.contact.az/advertisements/kur/++Hesabat%20son.%20-Kur%20zelzele.htm
The first six-point earthquake occurred on May 7, 2012 with its epicenter in Zagatala. Second earthquake of the same strength, with its epicenter in Balakan, was recorded in September.
Since 8 May 2012 to February 10, 2013 the Ministry for Emergency Situations (MES) inspected 33,276 homes and 5,059 homes were found in an emergency; in need of repair - 5905, in the need of light repair - 11,027 homes.
It was planned to construct 32 rural schools, and two hundred social facilities, and multi-family homes for 90 families. To eliminate the effects of the earthquake the government allocated 320 million manat.
First the MES acted as an organization with rescue functions, and provided people with 10,000 tents, food and other assistance, then the situation has changed dramatically.
Under the pretext of efficiency, without a tender were appointed construction companies, close to the high-ranking officials. Unskilled and cheap labor forces are used in construction. No labor contracts were signed, and the salary is issued without the appropriate registration, the workers are not provided with accommodation and meals. Documentation of the construction is not clear. Against this background, there were cases of suicide, and protests of builders.
Just like in the area of Kura flood, the cost per square meter of housing is increased at least by two times - 600 manat and more, what indicates a high degree of theft of funds.
This is evident when comparing the prices offered by the building company «AZ Dizayn İnşaat» in Baku. This company is ready to build turn-key homes at the price 335 manat per square meter with a bathroom and central heating, which is not the buildings that builds the MES. The same situation was observed in the area of Kura flood, where the official inspection revealed severe overpricing by construction companies of MES.
However, the Cabinet of Ministers, Ministry of Finance, the Anti-Corruption Department of the Prosecutor Office, and finally, the State Commission for the Fight against Corruption, headed by Ramiz Mehdiyev do not notice facts of abuse and theft of millions, said a member of staff "Kura", Mehman Aliyev.
Similar situation is with the repair of houses. Victims are given cash compensation of $ 3,000 or 7,000 manats, with which they themselves have to make repairs. There are a lot of cases where citizens refuse to help, considering it inappropriate. MES itself gives reason for this. Members of the staff "Kura" in February, during the monitoring in Zagatala region, witnessed the formal evaluation of the buildings by the expert of MES, that is done visually in a few minutes.
But the saddest thing is that originally 320 million manta were allocated, and then another 20 million manta, which have been already squandered. However, only part of the work has been done –approximately 2,000 homes and 20 schools of poor quality were built.
To build houses, according to the Emergencies Ministry, 252.2 million manta were spent, 61.16 million for schools, design and expertise - worth 2.5 million, compensation - 16.9 million, goods and equipment – 5, 5 million manat, the iron frames for buildings 1, 77 million manat.
All this causes discontent of the area with different ethnic composition of the region, home to Azerbaijani Turks, Avars, Lezgins, Tsakhurs, Chechens, Russian, etc.
"My house was examined two times, and every time they speak about state repair, but they have already built houses for not-victims," complains Fatima Efendiyeva, the villager of Mamruh.
Another villager Firuza Kerimova, from the village of Faldar, also showed pictures of her houses and complained of the MES officials who refuse to build new housing.
Director of the Turan News Agency, Mehman Aliyev, said that the staff will continue to monitor the situation in order to help people and to prevent corruption in the disaster area.
Headquarters of "Kura" urges the authorities to ensure the transparency of measures to eliminate the consequences of the earthquake through the connection to the process of local communities, NGOs and the media.-0 –
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