How did anyone prepare for winter?

In an annual tradition on November 15th, the official commencement of the winter season for public utilities in Azerbaijan has been declared. In previous years, heating issues have plagued some buildings in Baku, with residents reporting delayed heating services that extended into late November. Furthermore, complaints about inadequate heating have also been common in schools and kindergartens. Additionally, certain Azerbaijani villages still lack access to natural gas.

The Baku City executive power has informed Turan that an individual responsible for each district has been appointed. They have prepared lists of individuals responsible for snow removal in the districts, and they plan to engage existing equipment from administrations, organizations, municipalities, and private institutions to assist in these efforts.

"Azeristiliktechizat" OJSC has assured the agency that repair and restoration work has been completed, and all necessary preparations have been made. This year, they intend to operate 561 boiler houses and 88 heating points during the autumn-winter season. These facilities are expected to provide heat to 3,863 residential buildings, 287 secondary schools, 158 kindergartens, 150 healthcare facilities, and 2,200 farm facilities.

Mirvari Gahramanli, the head of the Organization for the Protection of the Rights of Oil Workers, told Radio Azadlig that heating problems have persisted in Azerbaijan for a considerable duration. Particularly, this issue is prominent in rural regions where many houses are privately owned, and some villages remain without access to natural gas. She noted that the level of gasification in Azerbaijan has remained at approximately 96% for the past decade, showing little change.

Gahramanli emphasized that central heating systems also encounter problems. If there is an outstanding gas debt for a building supplied with heat, the entire building's heat supply can be cut off.

Transport expert Elmaddin Muradli expressed skepticism based on past experiences, asserting that the claims of organizations declaring their readiness for winter are often empty words. He believes that preparations for winter are focused primarily on select streets and avenues, leaving others to rely on hope or the efforts of elderly individuals equipped with shovels and brooms from the Housing and Communal Services sector.

Muradli predicts that as complaints start pouring in during the upcoming days, the true state of affairs will become evident. Despite claims of readiness from organizations like "Azeristiliktechizat," the reality often reveals itself with protests arising in areas where heating is insufficient despite these assurances from authorities such as "Azerigaz" and "Azerishig."