Extremely intensive cleanup and restoration works are being carried out after the red sludge disaster: as previously agreed, by the end of June the Government will have compensated all the families affected. New homes for those needing them are being built in the residential estates of Devecser and Kolontár, and they will be handed over to the owners by 30 June, the statutorily agreed deadline.
On 15 April the Government Coordination Centre for Reconstruction finalised the contract on funding the rebuilding of the last property in question. Homes are being built on schedule in Devecser and Kolontár. In both locations the foundations, load-bearing walls and reinforced concrete slabs of every house are complete. Internal building works are being carried out in 41 houses on the residential estate in Devecser, and in 20 houses on the estate in Kolontár. Basic electrical work is 97% complete, internal plastering 60% complete, and waterproofing and basic mechanical services are more than 50% complete. Here tradesmen will carry out surfacing, plastering and painting tasks. In Kolontár 225 metres of the planned 278-metre-long fence have been completed. Foundations are being dug for the property planned for Somlóvásárhely.
The Veszprém County Directorate of the National Tax and Customs Authority has suspended for four years the obligation to pay dues for those who suffered losses during the red sludge disaster, and who have chosen to rebuild their houses through state compensation. Thus an owner who submits a copy of the occupation permit on their new house to the tax authorities need not pay taxes.
Prospective residents may view the houses being built. Open days are being held in Devecser every Saturday and in Kolontár every second Saturday, from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm. Those interested can get help regarding design of fittings or the selection of internal finishes. The houses have been viewed by 166 people in Devecser and by 45 in Kolontár.
Construction works are proceeding in parallel with the demolition of uninhabitable houses. In Devecser a total of 108 properties have been demolished, and for 96 of these the rubble has already been removed.
Restoration of outlying areas is also in progress. In order to make the area liveable again, the afforestation of some ten hectares on the outskirts of Kolontár is under way, as well as the planting of energy crops and the application of soil conditioner.
On the right bank of the Marcal river the extraction and loading of contaminated material is being carried out, and the track around the pond in Kolontár and the sludge barrier are being reinforced. So far, a total of 464,510 m3 of contaminated material (an average of 4,000 to 6,000 m3 per day) and 33,122 m3 of demolition debris have been transported to disposal sites.
(kormany.hu)
