Penza, 5 February 2015. PenzaNews. Completion of Penza zoo reconstruction was one of the main topics of discussion during the meeting of the Standing Committee of the City Duma on education, health, science, culture and social issues, held on Thursday, February 5.

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Reporting to the deputies, Yuliya Shumakova, deputy head of Penza Department of Culture, informed this year the institution development is planned to be completed.

“The reconstruction is carried out by the capital construction agency [of Penza]. On June 1, we are waiting for the arrival of the minister of culture of the Russian Federation [Vladimir Medinsky], and [there will be] the official opening,” she said.

Commenting on whether the reconstructed zoo will match the original plans, Yuliya Shumakova was unable to give a detailed response and asked Elena Khassan, zoo director, to comment.

“Indeed, there are some deviations from the project. This is due to the fact that the reconstruction was delayed. It was supposed to end in 2012. Accordingly, there was a rise in the cost of materials and work. Part of the work has not been carried out in accordance with the documentation. I would like to say that we still can not refer to specific project documentation. It is in the capital construction agency,” Elena Khassan said.

According to her, the representatives of CCA of Penza, and the zoo representatives visited all facilities under reconstruction and noted apparent deficiencies, which may result in possible commissioning delay. As an example, she cited the situation with the boilers – only two out of four planned are currently operating.

“It is difficult to vacate the premises with animals, and partly with working staff, and move into new buildings, as they have not been transferred to the assert register. Therefore we delay the commissioning date. Those contractors we are happy to have now, are unable to meet the bulk of work by the deadline,” Elena Khassan noted.

According to her, Penza capital construction agency sets back the preparation of documentation required for the commissioning of facilities.

As the customer of works is Penza CCA, not the zoo or the city department of culture, which manages the institution, the deputies decided to invite a representative of the agency to the next session to clarify the situation as soon as possible and take the necessary measures in order the reconstruction was completed entirety as scheduled.