A group of 10 journalists from the national and local media visited several localities where four projects of the Regional Development Agency Center are implemented. The study visit took place on November 20 and was organized by the Independent Press Association (IPA) under a project to promote regional development in the media’s agenda, funded by the German Development Cooperation through GIZ.
The first destination of the journalists was “Development of transport infrastructure for harnessing the tourism potential of Center Development Region“, under which 6 km of road were rehabilitated in Varzaresti village, Nisporeni rayon, to increase the number of visitors to the main tourist attractions in the rayon. The total cost of the project amounted to 28,699,000 lei, allocated by the National Fund for Regional Development (NFRD). The Deputy Mayor of Vărzăreşti, Chiril Gorceag, says that before this part of the road was renovated, the road had been hardly usable: „The monastery in Vărzăreşti is one of the oldest in Moldova, it is visited by many tourists, but the access road to the monastery was cumbersome. The rehabilitation of the road was more than necessary not only for people and the businesses in the village and the rayon, but also the over 40 thousand pilgrims who come to the region each year,” the mayor said. The locals are also happy, as the renovated road made the access to the main road leading to Chisinau by about 13 km shorter.
The second project targeted by journalists was „Sanitation of localities in Nisporeni, Străşeni and Călăraşi rayons for a clean and healthy environment” , the outcomes of which are for the benefit of 13 localities in Nisporeni, Străşeni and Călăraşi rayons. The project cost of 10,737,000 lei was totally covered by the NFRD. Journalists visited the Nisporeni polygon where the waste is to be stored (it will be put into operation in late November), and the joint venture IM “Apa Canal Nisporeni”, where new containers and vehicles will be stored. The deputy director of „Apă Canal Nisporeni”, Victor Popov, hopes that, after the waste storage system is upgraded, people will be more disciplined and will not throw garbage to unauthorized places: “Garbage disposal services cost eight lei per month for a family member, the garbage being disposed twice a week. Now we should work with people who still throw garbage wherever they want it, in order to increase discipline, including by applying sanctions”.
The third destination of the study visit was the project entitled „12,000 citizens provided with drinking water in 12 localities” , developing a drinking water supply system in Mănoileşti, Unţeşti, Alexeevca, Lidovca, Cetireni, Floriţoaia Veche, Florițoaia Nouă, Grozasca and Novaia Nicolaevca villages in Ungheni rayon. 23 km of water pipe and a water testing unit were built under the project, the project’s cost was 24 million 870 thousand lei, of which 21 million 370 thousand lei was NFRD contribution and 3.5 million was the contribution of the beneficiaries. The mayor of Mănoileşti Grigore Popa says that the problem of drinking water in this region is an urgent one: “None of the 188 wells in these villages comply with the standards, and the amount of harmful substances exceeds the norm by tens or even hundreds times. Now we have one of the best water treatment plants in the country”.
The last destination of the journalists was the “Access to public life” project, which provides for renovation of an important portion of the regional road with the length 1.978 km in Parlita village, Ungheni rayon. The cost of the project amounts to 8 million 392 thousand lei, including 8 million 242 thousand NFRD contribution and 150 thousand beneficiaries’ contribution. The mayor Ion Bejan says that the road was renovated for the benefit of the citizens. “All kerbs have already been installed and the pavement will be poured next spring, when the weather conditions will allow it,” the mayor says.
The visit was organized under the “Integrated efforts to promote regional development in media’s agenda” project, funded by the German Development Cooperation through GIZ and based on partnership and cooperation agreement signed by the IPA and the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction.
