Demolition of kiosks starts in Minsk
Rumours about liquidation of kiosks are turning out to be real. Kiosks have disappeared from Varanyanski Street, Masherau Avenue and a number of other streets of the capital.
The owner of a kiosk in Surhanau Street is ready for the fact that his kiosk will be demolished. They have not informed him about the date yet. But it will happen this year.
Syarhei Paplauskі: “They haven’t told me the exact date but they say it will happen this year. Nobody will provide placement for the two sellers and the accountant working in the office”.
The main reason for the demolition of kiosks is their obsoleteness and esthetic inconsistency. Interestingly, nobody is going to remove “Belsayzdruk” kiosks. So they are changing their appearance. Syarhei Paplauski is also ready to modernize his kiosk. However, nobody listens to his suggestion.
Syarhei Paplauskі: “I wish they suggested that we changed according to the pattern of “Belsayzdruk” kiosks. Here it is – a new one standing nearby. It was installed three or four months ago. They do not suggest it to us. However, all PEs are ready to install new kiosks, with an entrance and a normal tent. The old one is outdated, morally and physically. But they said nobody would allow it until the new pattern of pavilions is established in the city”.
Some entrepreneurs have changed the appearance of their kiosks many times, installed bus stop tents and they invested their own money in it. But it will not help them preserve their kiosks. Kiosks will be demolished together with the tents. The deputy head of administration of Frunzenski District Andrei Yasuchenya says:
“Entrepreneurs may take them if it is their property. Nobody will protest, the city will simply install its own tent without a kiosk on that place”.
The head of the department of architecture and city construction of Kastrychnitski District Alena Suhadulava says that entrepreneurs would not be able to preserve their tents even if they wished to:
“The tents are constructed the way that they can only be attached to kiosks. So they have to be rebuilt anyway, or some additional posts should be constructed”.
For example, all the 94 kiosks in Frunzenski District will be demolished. The schedule of demolition has already been worked out in Kastrychnitski District. Even PUEs who got their licenses a month ago will not be able to avoid it. Thus, the owner of the kiosk standing near the office of the administration of Kastrychnitski District got his license on December 21, 2007. Alena Suhadulava says:
“Does reregistration influence decisions of the city authorities in some way? We have approved the schedule of demolition and we will stick to it this year”.
Kiosks are not included in plans of major repairs of city streets. Andrei Yasyuchenya says:
“Kiosks are being replaced by tents without kiosks in streets where major repairs have started. The repair works were conducted last year and the year before last”.
Furthermore, the state will suffer great losses together with entrepreneurs and sellers. An entrepreneur Syarhei Paplauski paid heavy taxes to the budget:
“It’s about four millions a month not taking into account the income tax. Consider how much wages we pay and it adds 800 thousands. As a result – it is five millions. And it is not the best month”.
Minsk City Executive Committee considers appeals of entrepreneurs. But kiosks are gradually disappearing from the streets of the capital”.
The owner of a kiosk in Surhanau Street is ready for the fact that his kiosk will be demolished. They have not informed him about the date yet. But it will happen this year.
Syarhei Paplauskі: “They haven’t told me the exact date but they say it will happen this year. Nobody will provide placement for the two sellers and the accountant working in the office”.
The main reason for the demolition of kiosks is their obsoleteness and esthetic inconsistency. Interestingly, nobody is going to remove “Belsayzdruk” kiosks. So they are changing their appearance. Syarhei Paplauski is also ready to modernize his kiosk. However, nobody listens to his suggestion.
Syarhei Paplauskі: “I wish they suggested that we changed according to the pattern of “Belsayzdruk” kiosks. Here it is – a new one standing nearby. It was installed three or four months ago. They do not suggest it to us. However, all PEs are ready to install new kiosks, with an entrance and a normal tent. The old one is outdated, morally and physically. But they said nobody would allow it until the new pattern of pavilions is established in the city”.
Some entrepreneurs have changed the appearance of their kiosks many times, installed bus stop tents and they invested their own money in it. But it will not help them preserve their kiosks. Kiosks will be demolished together with the tents. The deputy head of administration of Frunzenski District Andrei Yasuchenya says:
“Entrepreneurs may take them if it is their property. Nobody will protest, the city will simply install its own tent without a kiosk on that place”.
The head of the department of architecture and city construction of Kastrychnitski District Alena Suhadulava says that entrepreneurs would not be able to preserve their tents even if they wished to:
“The tents are constructed the way that they can only be attached to kiosks. So they have to be rebuilt anyway, or some additional posts should be constructed”.
For example, all the 94 kiosks in Frunzenski District will be demolished. The schedule of demolition has already been worked out in Kastrychnitski District. Even PUEs who got their licenses a month ago will not be able to avoid it. Thus, the owner of the kiosk standing near the office of the administration of Kastrychnitski District got his license on December 21, 2007. Alena Suhadulava says:
“Does reregistration influence decisions of the city authorities in some way? We have approved the schedule of demolition and we will stick to it this year”.
Kiosks are not included in plans of major repairs of city streets. Andrei Yasyuchenya says:
“Kiosks are being replaced by tents without kiosks in streets where major repairs have started. The repair works were conducted last year and the year before last”.
Furthermore, the state will suffer great losses together with entrepreneurs and sellers. An entrepreneur Syarhei Paplauski paid heavy taxes to the budget:
“It’s about four millions a month not taking into account the income tax. Consider how much wages we pay and it adds 800 thousands. As a result – it is five millions. And it is not the best month”.
Minsk City Executive Committee considers appeals of entrepreneurs. But kiosks are gradually disappearing from the streets of the capital”.
