With supplemental financial assistance from the government 43 projects in 36 communities in the Kotayk Marze are being implemented.

Out of the 10 billion Armenian drams in financial aid that the government of the Republic of Armenia (ROA) has allocated to the Marzes (Administrative Regions), 1.366 billion has been earmarked for a number of reconstruction projects in communities in the Kotayk Marze.

From the proposals submitted the government has agreed to 43. The bulk of the projects involve the repair of water pipelines (as most were installed back in 1960-61 and haven’t been repaired since); installing a gas delivery system for the communities; the repair of level rooftops; the paving of road surfaces and school capital repairs. Pothole repairs on the Balahovit-Geghashen stretch of road have been completed and major renovations have been made to the Yerevan-Garni-Geghart highway.

According to Samvel Hakobyan, Department Head for the Kotayk Regional Council’s Local Self-Governing and State Executive Bodies’ Coordinating Office, his office has requested that the communities specify the immediate problems they face that cannot be resolved through local budgetary expenditures. This list of problems has been brought to the attention of the government. According to the Mr. Hakobyan projects have been drafted for all communities in the Marze, with the exception of Tsaghkadzor and Hankavan, at a price tag of 1.6 billion drams. However the government has agreed to only allocate 1.366 billion drams. Preference is being given to the most immediate problems as well as to those communities where projects haven’t been implemented through the assistance of a variety of outside foundations and to those communities that have already heavily invested in certain projects. For example, the Charentsavan Mayor’s Office has completed drawing up plans for the delivery of gas to the city’s “Refugee Neighborhood” with funds from its own budget.

Unquestionably, the proposals have included the most pressing problems the communities face. However, local residents have not always been informed about this selection process. In the village of Kaghsi work is being carried out to overhaul the potable water network in the lower district and to construct a pumping station plus a regulating reservoir. To complete the work the government has allocated some 50 million drams that, according to Mayor Sedrak Davtyan, is nearly enough as the original cost estimate for the project was pegged at 80 million. The local community is prepared to kick-in its share since the village’s upper district, where 70% of the populace resides, has experienced water problems for the past 30-40 years. Once the project is completed some 500 families will be supplied with water. In addition, “Hayjrmugh” the Armenian water and sewage company has promised to invest in the project as well.

Work is presently underway. With funds allocated by the government the lower portion of the water distribution network will be repaired by year’s end. The reservoir will be built in the spring of 2008. As to the question why the government proposed this project to the village of Kaghsi and if the project was ever discussed with its residents, Mr. Davtyan responded that the problem of supplying drinking water to the populace has always been a daily issue for discussion. “ There’s been a community-wide meeting and a meeting of the Local Council, otherwise the project couldn’t have gone through.” Hasmik Davtyan, Staff Secretary at the Mayor’s Office, noted that during the past year residents in their appeals to the community’s administration mostly raised social issues, but that they always complained about the water situation during public hearings. Furthermore, the issue of potable water topped the list of demands that the residents made to candidates during the Mayoral election campaign.

Kaghsi village residents Hrant Karapetyan and Zhora Hayrapetyan recounted that the last time a community meeting was held in their village was several months ago during the run-up to elections. During the meeting a number of important issues facing the village were discussed including the water situation in the upper district. Another resident chimed in that, “ We haven’t yet convened a meeting. The government is new. The people haven’t had water for years and that’s the reason why we decided to spend their own money. The entire village agreed to this and the decision was ratified by the Local Council.” One female resident, hauling a pail of water in the upper district, confessed that, “ We haven’t called a meeting but we all realize that water is our biggest problem.”

With this government funding 3 projects in the city of Charentsavan are being carried out. A 22 million dram project to pave the road of this city of 25,000 has been completed. While community residents never presented a similar work proposal in writing, Shushanik Sargsyan, the Mayor’s Staff Secretary, stated that the issue of resurfacing the roads was always voiced at public hearings. 

Work to construct a gas delivery system for the “Refugee Neighborhood” in Charentsavan is underway. For years on end, ever since the area was first populated, residents of two buildings in the 9th and 10th wards and 90 cottages have had no gas. On this issue residents have repeatedly petitioned a number of governmental bodies, even going as far as the National Assembly and the President of the Republic. Coming up with a solution was always put-off due to a lack of resources, but with supplemental government funding work will be completed by year’s end and neighborhood residents will welcome in the New Year in apartments supplied with gas.

Repairs of flat-roofs in Charenstavan are also underway with government funding. City Mayor Hakob Shahgaldaryan says that some 43-45 buildings have such repair issues. The proposal presented by the Mayor estimated the cost at some 80 million drams but the government only agreed to allocate 60 million, a sum only sufficient enough for repairs to 35 buildings. For this reason, 200,000 drams is being requested from residents of each building as their share of the costs. In any event monies will not be collected on a mandatory basis and regardless of the amount collected roof repairs will be carried out on the 35 designated buildings. The City Mayor noted that six buildings have chipped in funds that can only be used for roof repair.

As to the formulation of the proposals Mr. Shahgaldaryan observed that he himself had submitted the proposals and that no meetings with the communities involved had taken place since these three important local problems had been singled out in the course of his daily contact with residents. The Mayor stated that, “ Two out of every ten people who show-up at our public hearings raise that issue.” As to our query, “ What is the number one problem facing residents of Charentsavan?” the residents pointed to preservation of the housing stock and road repaving, in addition to social and unemployment issues.   

In the village of Argel, with a population of 35,000, problems demanding immediate attention include the water supply, roofs and roads. The government has allocated 30 million drams for the complete overhaul of Argel’s secondary school. However, Community Mayor Matevos Avagyan says there’s been a misunderstanding, “All the 30 million drams has been spent on road repaving. They specifically asked me what stretch of road we’re talking about and I said the school road. The word ‘school’ seems to have seems to have stuck in their heads and not the road issue. Whatever the reason, the final result was a project to renovate the school.” The mayor informed us that the village school is included in the capital repairs program of next year’s state budget and that come what may the work will proceed apace. Of course it became apparent that due to this miscommunication 8 million drams was earmarked for school renovations. Repairs are presently underway at Argel’s V. Ananyan Secondary School.

Samvel Hakobyan, Head of the Kotayk Regional Council’s Local Self-Governance Coordinating Office, doesn’t see eye-to-eye with the Community Mayor of Argel. According to Mr. Hakobyan, the road in Argel was in pretty bad condition and in order that the project not be scrapped it was linked to the school issue since pupils use that road to get to the school anyway. Road pavement work has already been completed. In total, 2, 700 square meters of roadway has been resurfaced at a cost of 22 million drams. However, this sum wasn’t enough to complete all the needed work. A 700 square meter stretch of road in front of the school remains unpaved. The Mayor of Argel noted that, “ 8 million drams was cut out and that’s why the amount was insufficient. Potholes will be repaired along that stretch and the Regional Governor has promised to assist in order that a six meter length portion be paved.” Meanwhile Mr. Hakobyan noted that they’d be monitoring the project’s progress and insisting that the community complete the work as per schedule. 

As to the proposal’s initial selection and submittal, Mr. Avagyan gave assurances that complaints and petitions were regularly received from residents regarding road-related issues. The road in question leads to the school and the surrounding neighborhood is densely populated. Also, it’s the road leading to the cemetery. When it rains the road becomes nearly impassable. Many residents were amazed that the village had been granted financial assistance from the government. Residents noted water for drinking and irrigation along with roof repair in their list of top priority issues. When we asked if there were any complaints regarding the roadway an elderly woman from Argel stated that the Community Mayor had already repaired the road and expressed her satisfaction. A mother of a school-aged child, who was also uninformed about the project, noted that irrigation water flooded the road to the school on a yearly basis, making it virtually impossible to traverse.

Many issues also confront the city of Byureghavan whose total budget is only 72 million drams.  Deputy Mayor Edik Poghosyan says that they proposed roadwork and roof repair projects that were turned down. It was argued that the city had already received funding. As outlined in the above-mentioned program, the government earmarked 40 million drams for the capital renovation of Public School #1. The Deputy Mayor states that, “ We never submitted such a proposal and know nothing about it.”

Principal Karine Khachikyan recounted that school repairs have already begun with the sum received from the national budget. In addition, with assistance from the “ Renewable and Conservation Energy Foundation of Armenia” the heating problem has been resolved. With the 40 million drams allocated by the government the building housing the sports-school will be totally renovated and locker-rooms, storage space and bathrooms complete with showers will be built. New windows have also been installed. The roofs of three school buildings will also be repaired as per project specs. The principal points out that, “ Our school was in the worst shape of any building in the community.” She confesses that she doesn’t know who had submitted the school project but that it was a frequently raised issue. Furthermore, monies allocated from the national budget weren’t enough to cover the cost of roof repairs. The school principal preferred not to answer when asked what was the number one priority issues confronting Byureghavan. It was the Deputy Mayor who responded that these included the asphalting of inner courtyards, roof repair, a gas delivery system for 48 cottages, a sewage system for the Ward #1, along with issues related to the music, cultural and sports-schools. Deputy Mayor Edik Poghosyan noted that they submitted their proposal based on the complaints voiced by residents during public hearings held daily at the Mayor’s Office. Random passersby we encountered in Byureghavan considered the main concern of the community to include improvement of community services and preservation of the housing stock.