Will new mayor compensate for fire-affected houses?
The owners of seven houses at No. 23 Koryun Street that burnt down a year ago expect to receive compensation before the New Year.
Arthur Sargsyan, a resident at the address, says at a recent meeting with relevant bodies they were asked whether they would like to rebuild the houses on their own or with the help of the committee.
"We agreed to take the money. For each square meter of living space $400 worth in drams will be paid in compensation," he said.
The fire started on November 24, 2010 and burnt down 12 privately owned houses. Five of them were later rebuilt by the tenants while the other seven are dilapidated. Some of the families have been living in tents on the site of the fire for several months.
After the fire the then newly appointed Mayor Karen Karapetyan came to visit the place. He invited the victims to live - until their problems were settled - for about four months in rented apartments.
Within 8 months, the municipality paid 150,000 drams every month to each of the affected families. However, the housing problem remained unsolved. The victims rented apartments all this time in other parts of the city in anticipation of the final solution of their housing problems. On August 24, the funding stopped; the residents do not know what could be the cause; and those who failed to settle the housing problem through their own efforts, once again found them on the street. Some of them had to return to the burned out shell, do some repairs and stay there.
"Just then the municipality washed its hands of the affair," said Arthur Sargsyan.
