Journalists inspect regional development projects

A group of journalists from TV channels: Moldova 1, Canal Regional and Aici TV / Elita TV, and Radio Moldova and Radio Chisinau, visited on 22 April, a few places where are implemented projects of Centre Regional Development Agency. Journalists discussed with project's beneficiaries, but also to those who made it possible for them to be implemented.

The first destination for journalists was Varzaresti village, Nisporeni rayon, where under the project 'Development of transport infrastructure for revaluation of Centre Development Region's touristic potential' was rehabilitated 6 km of road. The project aims to increase the number of visitors to major tourist attractions in the rayon, such as the Varzaresti Monastery, and business development in the region by creating jobs. Total project's cost is MDL 28 million 699 thousand, the sources being allocated from the National Fund for Regional Development (NFRD).

Authorities affirm that the road was built in the 80's of the last century and was 70% damaged. Ghenadie Verdes, President of Nisporeni rayon, states:'Infrastructure's development for any community is paramount. Before the road was impassable, therefore the access to the main attraction of the area, Varzareşti Monastery was limited. After repairing works, the road is traveled daily by 2-3 hundred units of transport, and local residents are very satisfied'.

Maria Ursu, resident of Varzaresti village confirms the words of the president: 'We are very pleased that the road has been renovated and we gave way, at last, rubber overshoes, we hope that other roads in our locality will come to look as good as this'.

The second purpose of the visit was the drinking water supply system in the following localities: Mănoileşti, Unţeşti, Alexeevca, Lidovca, Cetireni, Floritoaia Veche, Floritoaia Noua, Grozasca and Novaia Nicolaevca of Ungheni rayon. Within the project '12,000 citizens supplied with drinking water in 12 localities'were constructed 23 km of water pipe and a water testing station, the cost of the project being MDL 24 million 870 thousand, of which MDL 21 million 370 thousand was NFRD's contribution, and 3.5 million - beneficiaries' contribution.

Journalists visited the water testing station and Manoilesti village gymnasium where water flows from the taps already.

Ion Negura, the project's manager says that water comes from the river Prut testing station, and here it is subject to various chemical processes, being transformed into drinking water 'Both in Manoilesti commune and in other beneficiary villages, the water is very expected by people, because 95% of the water from wells in the region is of poor quality. Currently, water is received by seven schools and kindergartens, but hopefully by the summer the water will reach into people's homes. It remains to fulfill the procedure of connecting households, their metering etc'.

Tatiana Canita, the head of communal household of Manoilesti gymnasium spoke about the benefits of the project: 'In order to prepare food for 103 students from primary school that eat at the gymnasium, we had to bring daily several bottles of water from wells from the village and not from any wells, but from those authorized by specialists. It was a difficult procedure, but now it is much easier, we have everything at hand'.

Some journalists who visited these objects say they are interested in such subjects, as they bring enormous benefit to citizens, who are also interested in developing their community. Maria Trifan, Radio Moldova correspondent says: 'People are interested in topics that directly relate to them, their welfare. Recently I made a few programs on regional development policies in Moldova and our listeners phoned, addressed various questions about various projects which contribute to their community development'.

Next week journalists will visit several regional development objects in the northern and southern  regions of Moldova.

The visit took place within the project 'Increasing the visibility of regional development programmes in audiovisual media' financed by the German Development Cooperation through GIZ and based on a partnership and cooperation agreement signed by AIP and the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction.