Homel: wooden buildings still dismantled despite prohibition of Ministry of Culture
The unique wooden buildings of the
19-20th century in Volvatauskaya Street are still dismantled
The
city authorities intend to construct a multi-stored house in place of
a part of the old town. A part of houses with a unique carving have
been dismantled already, and the destruction continues.
A
number of civil organizations of Homel (BLS, "Talaka") and
concerned citizens stood against the dismantlement. They filed an
application to the Ministry of Culture, asking to give this houses
the status of historical and cultural value. The Ministry of Culture
hasn't considered this question yet. However, back at the end of 2012
it answered that the construction works at the site were to be
stopped until the status of the houses would be determined. At the
same time, a foundation pit was dug in place of the dismantled
buildings and ads about the sale of apartments in the new house
appeared in Homel.
As stated to BelaPAN by civil activist Ales
Kamandzirchyk, on 13 March he walked in Volatauskaya Street and
noticed that one of the unique houses, #17, had no lock on it. "When
I entered the house I saw that there was no floor any more, and some
bricks struck out of the walls were lying there. I think that
somebody ruins the house deliberately, so that it wouldn't be given
the status of a historical and cultural value," stated the
activist.
The head of Homel regional branch of the Belarusian
Language Society named after Frantsysk Skaryna, Yauhen Yakavenka,
stated to BelaPAN that neither the prohibition of the Ministry of
Culture, nor numerous complaints of civil activists and the danger of
legal punishment had any influence on the building company. According
to him, the activists managed to obtain a copy of the building
permit, issued to the building company "Elektrapram" by the
inspection of the department of control and supervision over
construction works in Homel region. "The permit was issued on 17
December, after we applied to the Ministry of Culture for giving the
status of cultural and historical values to the houses, and after the
Ministry put a ban on the construction works there. The permit is
valid until 1 March, which means that all construction works which
are conducted there now are unlawful," stated Mr.
Yakavenka.
BLS and "Talaka" activists filed appeals
to the prosecutor's office against violation of the law by the
building company, demanding to stop the construction of the
multi-stored house.
Moreover, they applied to the Ministry of
Culture with the proposal to give the status of a historical and
cultural value to the historical district of Homel, Svistok, which
includes Volatauskaya and Paryzhskai Kamuny streets.
According
to Mr. Yakavenka, the ministry plans to determine the status of the
wooden houses at the end of March.
