“While the previous government allocated only GEL 1 million for the Solid Waste Management Company of Georgia Ltd, in the current year, GEL 12 million are earmarked for this purpose.”
On 1 October 2013, debates on the economy were held in the Parliament of Georgia during which Zurab Tkemaladze, MP from the Parliamentary Majority, made a speech and discussed the implemented governmental projects and those to be implemented in the future. The MP stated: “While the previous government allocated only GEL 1 million for the Solid Waste Management Company of Georgia Ltd, in the current year, GEL 12 million are earmarked for this purpose.”
FactCheckinquired about the accuracy of the statement.
The Solid Waste Management Company of Georgia Ltdwas established by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development in April 2011. Starting from the end of 2012 the company fell under the governance of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia.
The Solid Waste Management Company of Georgia Ltd is responsible for: improving the disposal procedure of household waste on existing landfills, creating landfills and their preparation for further commissioning, introducing/improving calculation systems of waste on landfills and constructing and managing new sanitary landfills.
As early as 19 December 2012, Deputy Minister Shota Murgulia presented the Solid Waste Management Company of Georgia Ltd and the plans for its future work in the coming year to the governmental, non-governmental and international organisations working on the matter of landfills assembled for a discussion at the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure.
On 20 December 2012 Nugzar Kevlishvili, then the Director of the Solid Waste Management Company of Georgia Ltd stated: “We are planning to create eight landfills in 2013. These are the landfills of: Telavi, Mtskheta, Gori, Akhaltsikhe, Kutaisi, Ambrolauri, Zugdidi and Ozurgeti. We are also planning to reconstruct the roads to these territories, set up crossing points, cover the existing waste on the landfills with soil, create a sewage system and fence the landfills. For the first time in the history of Georgia, the funding for working to solve these issues will be increased 12-fold. In 2013, [GEL] 12 million will be allocated in this field.”
Information on the funds for the Solid Waste Management Company of Georgia Ltd being increased to GEL 12 million can be found in the approved budget of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia for 2013.
In August 2013 the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure held a meeting with journalists where Giorgi Shukhoshvili, the present Director of the Solid Waste Management of Georgia Ltd, presented to the media the company’s report on the work performed over the last six months which explored in detail the activity conducted and the funds spent. This information can also be retrieved from the official websiteof the Ministry.
Conclusion
As revealed by our research, in 2012 the Solid Waste Management Company of Georgia Ltd was given GEL 1 million for creating landfills and performing other duties. In 2013 the funding of the company grew 12-fold and reached the point of GEL 12 million. Today, most of the planned work has been accomplished and a large portion of the funding – utilised.
Accordingly, we conclude that Zurab Tkemaladze’s statement: “While the previous government allocated only GEL 1 million for the Solid Waste Management Company of Georgia Ltd, in the current year, GEL 12 million are earmarked for this purpose,” is TRUE.
