THE GOVERNMENT WILL RETURN TO SOFTENING OF TARIFF POLICY…

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22-02-2010

At conventional session of NKR National Assembly one of the questions
sounded during NA-government question and answer, which was asked
at the end of the session by the Speaker Ashot Ghoulyan, concerned
news round an increase of tariffs of municipal services, particularly
already announced decision on increase of water tariff.

Accepting the truth, that every enterprise always justifies its
represented variant, and it’s also true, because it’s necessary to
pay high price for qualified service, simultaneously the question
is worrisome from the point of view of population’s solvency. In
order that increase of tariffs won’t influence negatively upon social
standard of population, has the government view order about showing
assistance to more vulnerable sections of population?

NKR Prime minister Ara Harutyunyan answering the question, has noted,
that regulating commission defines tariffs: the managing subject
discusses and adopts corresponding resolution. Thus the commission
is not a body within the government, where the latter can show some
interference. But of course, many times it participates in discussions,
tries to take into consideration social condition, to soften somewhere
tariff policy.

The Prime minister has noted, that in the end of every year the
government, for paying off debts of municipal services, is obliged
to direct sums of hundred millions from state budget to payment of
salaries, electricity, for acquisition of technics and so on. The
reason is, that the tariff does not correspond with the reality.

The head of the government has informed, that in forthcoming rise in
the price of gas is expected. The enterprise supplying gas, which will
acquire gas more expensively and which also will incur expenses and
investments, should involve all this in its accounting and represent
to regulating commission, and the last will define tariff of gas.

And what compensation can government realize after increase of tariffs,
it must discuss during adoption of a bill about state budget.

Such thing is not foreseen by state budget of 2010. When the draft
of state budget of 2010 is discussed, that time the government will
try to realize different social programs for reducing social tension.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress