Penza, 1 June 2018. PenzaNews. The chairman of the board of the housing cooperative Zemlyanichnoe, assistant to the head of the Penza regional branch of the Russian Geographical Society (RGS) on environmental issues Victor Neboga intends to send a video message to the Direct Line with Vladimir Putin regarding improvement of the developing Zarya district.

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Commenting on the reasons that had prompted him to apply directly to the head of state the pensioner explained that he had long been engaged in beautification of the area near the pond Bezymyanny.

According to Victor Neboga, in 2017 he purchased tons of sand at his own expense and covered a small stretch of beach, but after the winter there was almost nothing left — all the sand was washed into the pond.

He noted that to create a full-fledged recreation area it is necessary to cover the shoreline with sand at a width of 100 metres as well as to make comfortable entrances into the water.

The activist said that in early April 2018 he had already sent an appeal signed by 524 people to President of Russia Vladimir Putin – the appeal contained a request to assist in allocation of 200 tons of sand.

The presidential department on work with appeals of residents and organizations answered that the appeal had been redirected to the Penza region government since the activist had failed to provide information about the results of its consideration by local authorities.

Some time later the chairman of the board of the housing cooperative was informed that the appeal had been redirected to the Penza administration.

In the end, on May 24, Victor Neboga received a letter signed by vice mayor Yury Ilyin stating that the city budget for 2018 makes no provision for the purchase of sand to make a comfortable beach in the Zarya district.

"[Penza mayor Victor] Kuvaytsev visited beaches on May 6 and set the task to deliver sand. I have a question: who did he say this to if the city budget makes no provision for the purchase of sand? On the 20th he received the answer that sand had already been delivered," the activist reminded.

He added that due to the situation he had asked lawyer Alexei Bogoroditsky to prepare an address to the City Duma and prosecutor of the Penza region Natalia Kantserova with a request to clarify whether budgetary funds for the improvement of other recreation areas had been allocated and check how legitimate the refusal to help people of the Zarya district was.

Victor Neboga particularly drew attention to the fact that the body of water is located within the boundaries of Penza — in a short walk from the residential development at Zarya and close to the district Arbekovskaya Zastava, which makes it very popular.

"The place is nice, people want to have a rest there. Not everyone goes to Turkey," the pensioner said.

He expressed hope that the address to the Direct Line with Vladimir Putin will help to achieve the reaction of local authorities, who regularly urge residents to be proactive in issues of improvement.