63% of local housing and 42% of local boilers is ready for winter, Head of Sverdlovsk Region Government Denis Pasler said at a meeting with the region’s Vice Governor Sergey Nosov and Head of the Governor Administration Yakov Silin.

‘We have made sure that Sverdlovsk Region Government and respective ministries are working together smoothly in getting ready for the fall/winter season. Not everything is perfect, we are still struggling with some problems. However, I am sure the tasks set by the Governor will be fulfilled,’ Sergey Nosov said.

The authorities directed nearly 20% more funds to network and boiler replacement this year against a year earlier. This year, repairs will involve not only preparations for this year’s heating season but also some steps for major improvements in the long term, Pasler said.

‘We expect to raise the amount of money invested in the communal housing services system considerably. We are now developing the heating supply schemes for the first seven problem towns,’ the region’s Prime Minister said.

In the meanwhile, the region’s authorities are also dealing with the troubles in Nizhniy Tagil.

‘I made a number of orders regarding Nizhniy Tagil last week; we’ll check the compliance with these. We cannot but worry about the things around Tagilenergo, where the position of the Director-General is currently being fought over; this is all the more disconcerting given the upcoming winter. This is a case unique to the region,’ says Sergey Nosov.