Donetsk, Jun 30 — DAN. The program to develop and modernize the public utilities sectors in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions envisions major renewal of heat and water supply lines, Territorial Development Fund Director General Ilshat Shagiakhmetov said on Friday.

“By the year 2030, the new regions will modernize their utility infrastructure and repair heat and water networks as well as wastewater disposal facilities, ” said Shagiakhmetov who had been appointed program supervisor. Priorities include improvement of drinking water quality and renovation of apartment buildings to meet present-day requirements.

The four new regions are entitled to Special Treasure Loans, subsidies and other allocations from the federal budget totaling 25 billion rubles.  The DPR will receive 11.5 billion rubles worth of financial assistance, the LPR — 9 billion rubles, Zaporozhye Region  — 2.5 billion and Kherson Region — 2 billion, he said. 

The program was approved at a session of a Russian government working group chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.*jk