Dwellers of agrotowns near Homel obliged to change fences at their expense

In this way the preparation to “Dazhynki” harvest festival in the agricultural settlement Yaromina (Eremino), Homel region, is held.

Charter97.org website has been informed about that by a local inhabitant. He decided to share “an exciting story” of how their agro-town was preparing for “Dazhynki” festival using the example of Savetskaya Street.

“To begin with, all trees and bushes near private houses were cut clear, including dog rose, lilac and jasmine bushes. Now we are ordered to cut “ugly” apple-trees growing on private land lots. And these houses are not even situated near the road! These bushes and trees were saving us from exhaust pollution to some extent…,” he said.

In addition, the dwellers started a conflict because of the fences which had been removed by the local authorities at short notice, in order to make people repair them at their expense and using their own resources.

“They made us change fences, which had been made by the state back in the beginning of 2000. A year ago they were painted, and the look of the fences was fairly good. In response to a denial to replace them by new fences within 10 days, the fences were broken and taken away, and our land lots were left absolutely bare! People say that it is blackmailing, and new fences are to be made [by the state] finally, but some people really believe the threats. Top officials of the local council keep silent about the whereabouts of the fences, in a hope that people will make new fences at their expense. A few pensioners have built fences at their own expense, it cost Br 5 and 6 mln, while their pensions are so scanty!” the viewer is indignant.

But there is more to come. A new conflict was brought about by an order to paint private houses and fences. There is no assistance or support by the state, but everything is done in the form of order which is preferred by the authorities.

“Now people are made to paint houses and fences, which are their private property by the way, and in case people refuse, they are threatened by huge fines. This happens while many people do not have enough money for living, and pensioners live from hand to mouth. The local administration checks implementation of the “tasks assigned” every day, they make pictures of the objects by the phone,” the website viewer told.

The dwellers of Yaromina agro-town are vexed and feel humiliated.

“People complain that they had been working for the state all their lives, and now they are treated like dirt. They are prescribed what to do, and how could it be done, when there is no money for that? I understand that certainly people should keep their yards and territory near the houses tidy, make new fences when possible, paint them and so on. But people do not have money for that, and the authorities give orders rudely, and even threaten with fines!” the reader said.