On December 18, at a session of the District consulting council on developing local self-government under Russian Presidential Envoy in Volga Federal District, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that local self-government system of the republic has proved its efficiency.

Two main issues were discussed at the session, - activity of municipalities in housing and utilities sector, land improvement and road construction, and improvement of local self-government system due to changes in the Budget Code of the Russian Federation and Federal Law “On general principles of local self-government organization”.

Opening the session, Russian Presidential Envoy in Volga Federal District Mikhail Babich stated that the discussed issues are very topical. As for housing and utilities sector, citizens are mostly concerned about closedness of taken measures, their inability to influence these processes, and increase in tariffs for housing and utilities services.

Mikhail Babich noted that under leadership of Rustam Minnikhanov, the republic showed that even under tough economic situation successful work of municipalities is possible.

Rustam Minnikhanov, in his turn, noted that holding the session in Kazan is a good opportunity for regions to share their experience and discuss proposals for future work. Minnikhanov noted high level of development of the republic due to 1000th anniversary celebrations and Universiade. He also noted that Tatarstan has gained wide experience in local self-government, and there are 956 municipalities in the republic. Also, a number of federal and regional programmes aimed at solving municipal problems are implemented in the republic.

Minnikhanov also mentioned grants provided for supporting townships in Tatarstan.

As for housing and utilities sector, the president said that this sphere should always be controlled by regional and municipal authorities.