Penza, 12 August 2011. PenzaNews. Readiness of objects of housing and communal services of the Penza region for autumn - winter period is 70.2 %. Temporarily fulfilling duties of the head of department of housing and communal services of the region Yury Ilyin reported to the governor Vasily Bochkarev during selector meeting of heads of administrations of city districts and municipal areas on Thursday, August, 11th.

Yury Ilyin said: "Preparation for winter started in the Penza region at once upon termination of the previous cold season. Commissions coordinating all actions and also the regional commission hearing reports from places weekly were created in municipal administrations".

He said that preparation for winter in region is in the rate of last year — advancing of the schedule is noticed in preparation of engineering communications, decrease is in the work spent in establishments of public health services because of major repairs in many hospitals and medical assistant and obstetrical centers.

Yury Ilyin said: "Within the limits of preparation for a cold season liquidation of inefficient boiler-houses and change small houses to individual heating are carried out in the areas of the region. In particular, it is planned to connect more than 4 thousand apartments in the nearest future".

Among main problems Yury Ilyin named large debts of some enterprises and physical persons for using power resources.

The head of the department of housing and communal services said: "The debt for gas supply in region is 100 million 364 thousand rubles. The greatest debts are marked in Penza, Kamenka, Nizhny Lomov, Serdobsk, Sursk, Kuznetsk and Penza areas. In Penza the debt for the electric power is 290 million rubles, residents of the regional center owe 450 million roubles for heat supply".

Governor Vasily Bochkarev asked officials to work seriously and underlined that one of effective ways of reduction debts of the population is change to the individual heating, therefore it is necessary to conduct this work actively.

The head of the region said: "Now even tenants of low rise houses who were indignant earlier mark all pluses of such system and are happy with change. First, they began to pay less twice, and secondly, now all year long they can use hot water supply and regulate temperature of heat in the apartment independently. Even 5-storeyed apartment house was changed to individual heating in Mokshan".