People’s Assembly discusses performance of Public Works Ministry

Damascus, SANA – The People’s Assembly on Tuesday discussed the performance of the Public Works Ministry and its preparations for the reconstruction stage.

Discussions during the session focused on the need to adopt the recommendations of the recent reconstruction conference, setting up prefabricated buildings and small and moderate housing areas for displaced people who left their houses due to terrorist acts, and settling infractions for private properties, among other issues.

Responding to the Assembly members’ queries and comments, Minister of Public Works Hussein Arnous said that the ministry’s investment budget for 2016 is set at around SYP 7.9 billion, comparing it to 2013 budget which was between SYP13 and 14 million, adding that the Ministry is working now on rebuilding all its affiliated construction companies.

He noted that in 2014, the Ministry repaired around 500 engineering vehicles and procured 68 new vehicles valued at SYP 1.9 billion, while in 2015 the Ministry purchased 82 new vehicles valued at SYP 2.6 billion.

The Minister pointed out that the Ministry will shift to the rapid construction technique during the next year, noting that each rapid construction factory will cost SYP 4 billion but it can build 10,000 houses per year.

The Assembly members also discussed the government’s raising the prices of some goods and the citizens’ displeasure due to the price increases, stressing the necessity of handling this issue and for the government to be more in touch with the citizens’ problems and concerns and work to resolve them.

Manar al-Freih / Hazem Sabbagh

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