I. Metshin: “I am grateful to the active residents who put their hearts and souls in the city”

Transcript of the TV program “Theme” on the “Efir” channel with the participation of the Mayor of Kazan:

Anchorman: Efir continues with the "Theme", and Alexey Kuleshov is in the studio. So, tomorrow Tatarstan celebrates the Day of the Republic, and Kazan - the City Day. On the eve of the event our guest is Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of the city. Ilsur Raisovich will answer questions from viewers.

I.M.: I want to thank those who sent in their questions, it is a landmark for us in our work. We will carefully consider every call, every problem; I will personally answer all the questions.

A.K.: September 1 is around the corner; more than 110 thousand students will sit down at their desks soon. Firstly, whether the schools are ready?

I.M.: I want to clarify: there are 115 thousand students in Kazan, 14,500 of which are our dear first-graders, who will cross the threshold of the school for the first time in their lives. Let it become their favorite. They come for knowledge, and this is a very exciting event for both children and parents, and for grandparents, for the whole family. We have done everything possible to ensure that it will be a holiday for them.

This year the schools are 100% complete. For today the acceptance of schools completed in the program, which Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of our Republic, declared in 2012. According to it, we have repaired 138 schools, covered around 70 thousand of our students. And it's two completely different schools - of which the children are going on vacation and to which they will come on September 1.

I am sincerely grateful to our President, because it is an unprecedented program. We will continue to repair the school for the next year; we plan to overhaul 13 schools and 7 kindergartens.

A.K: Ilsur Raisovich, school repairs - this is definitely a good thing. But will new schools be built?

I.M.: When the program of liquidation of dilapidated housing, fateful for the capital and for the whole republic, started, it took place at a difficult time, when the economy was experiencing great difficulties. We have built houses, instead of slum dwellings, built new neighborhoods: Azino-1, Azino-2, Novo-Savinovskiy district, but the social infrastructure could not keep pace.

We know exactly where our problem areas are. We started the construction of a new school in the neighborhood of the social mortgage on the Azinskaya 2nd . For now the piles is hammered, the project has passed examination, and we look forward to continued funding. Also, a new school is being built in the complex XXI century, at the intersection of streets A. Kamaleev and A. Kutuy. New kindergartens will be introduced in September.

A.K.: You said today that some life-changing decision has been made, which relates to Kazan. Maybe now you slightly open the veil of secrecy, what is at stake?

I.M.:  The SPS “Zarechie” demanded its reconstruction. We were locked on the connection, the power. If put in simply – the tube was fully crowded. And we have built of the large number of residential complexes, public facilities in the northern part, and it is the need to expand.

We found a solution that will enable all of the objects of social infrastructure, housing complexes to connect in a time until the end of the year. The reconstruction of the SPS “Zarechie” and, moreover, biological sewage treatment plants has been started. The President paid great attention to this issue; we are headed with it considered various proposals that were offered by design institutes. Our plans are not just the new SPS “Zarechie”, which will provide capacity attachable objects for 10 years ahead in the northern part of the capital, but a new sewer, and biological treatment plant. This is fateful decision of “Vodokanal”, which allows developing of Kazan water and sewerage for the next decade.

A.K.: “Akseonov Fest” are coming, who are expected for a visit?

I.M.: 10 years have passed since the celebration of the 75th anniversary of Vasily Akseonov, when a large number of the Sixtiers came. Unfortunately, it was his last visit. Together we celebrated the first “Aksyonov Fest”, the first “Star Ticket”. A huge number of stars lit up during these 10 years, who have become masters of the pen. Guzel Yakhina with the great novel “Zuleiha opens her eyes” won the “Star Ticket” in the past year. For us it is a great pride.

Many guests will come to us for the anniversary of the festival: the Sixtiers, friends of Vasily Aksenov, young and eminent writers. We expect that the anniversary festival will open new names. I am glad that we grow big, and now even commemorative, with events that adorn the cultural life of our capital.

A.K.: Ilsur Raisovich, and after that there immediately will be the “Good Week” from 5 to 10 September?

I.M.: Yes, a very important event for us. September 5 is the International Day of charity. We announce priorities for the 5 years, and the desire to become the kindest city in the Russian Federation, to develop charity, the ability to listen to those in need, willingness to help, was announced as one of the priorities. This year we decided to start with the children. We gave the first graders encyclopedia in the past year on September 1, this year we present the “Diary of good deeds”. The children will write down what good deeds they have done. They will diligently keep a diary and learn from an early age to do good and to think of charity. This week will end on September 10 with the “Fair of Good”.

A.K.: And finally, tomorrow's holiday - the City Day, the Day of the Republic...

I.M.: The City Day and the Day of the Republic are the long-awaited holidays for us. According to tradition, residents and visitors, who come to us, are waiting for something special. We will try to make them happy. I will not list all venues, they can be found on the City Hall website. In fact, there will a large number of activities to suit different tastes, different ages, but they all are for our dear Kazan citizens and guests.

We have something to celebrate, we did a good job, and we made our city and our republic more beautiful. There is a reason to go out with your family, enjoy, thank each other for the good things we have done on the birthday of the city and the republic and together, hand in hand, continue to do it even better. Be happy and healthy, all the best for everyone!