Donetsk, Jan 10 — DAN. The Donetsk People’s Republic will launch a universal hotline for utility customers in the foreseeable future, DPR Acting Head Denis Pushilin said after a conference with the government and local authorities on Tuesday.
“Donetsk and Makeyevka residents keep complaining about failing water supply schedules. Furthermore, water points in basements and house entrances freeze due to low temperatures. Local administrations must address these issues, ” Pushilin wrote on Telegram.
He said that the authorities were launching a universal three-digit number for consultations over utility service problems, following complaints about inaction of heat-, water-supply and house management companies which are unreachable by phone.
“We’ve made some headway in Mariupol, and similar customer services will be set up in other DPR towns, ” Pushilin said.
Earlier reports said that utility charge exemptions would be extended from January 1 for the customers who get water from the Seversky Donets-Donbass canal. The measure was implemented for the first time in August 2022 due to the blockade of the region by Kiev.
The key water supply canal originates in Kiev-controlled territory, and Ukraine stopped supplying water in late February 2022, which made DPR authorities to introduce scheduled water supply. At present, water is supplied to large DPR towns for three hours every third day.*jk