Russia's Ministry of Housing and Communal Services: Seven Crimean regions are experiencing water shortages
In the Russian-annexed Crimea, seven regions are experiencing water shortages, as announced by the Minister for Housing and Communal Services of the Kremlin-controlled peninsular government, Sergey Karpov.
"Altogether we have seven problem areas: Leninsky District (the most problematic), Kerch, Sudak, Bakhchysarai, Feodosia, and Simferopol regions – villages of Fontany and Stroganovka, Simferopol – Krasnaya Gorka and Verkhnyaya Ukrainka. As of today, supply of water to these localities is organized. The total volume is nearly 410 - 450 cubic meters per day," he said, as reported by the press service of the present-day government of the peninsula.
Karpov announced that the total of necessary funds for the construction of water supply networks in the Simferopol district is about 12 million rubles. In 2017, according to Karpov, another 49 million rubles are to be allocated.
In addition, the head of the department said that design and exploration works are being conducted in Feodosia, and another 379 million rubles are planned to be allocated to solve the problems with the water supply. Meanwhile there is no confirmation that the funds will be allocated.
In June, a local state of emergency was declared in Staryi Krym due to the lack of water. A 10,000 person town has been left without a central water supply. A similar problem has occurred in Nizhnyaya Kutuzovka. Water cisterns have been delivered to these settlements, but due to the hot weather, the inhabitants lack a sufficient amount of water.
After the annexation of Crimea by Russia, Ukraine stopped supplying water to the peninsula via the North-Crimean Canal, which connects the main riverbed of the Dnieper River to the peninsula. Ukraine used to supply up to 85% of the Crimean fresh water needs through this canal.