Polyanska consolidated community is one of six consolidated communities of Zakarpattya, a region in far South-West of Ukraine. At a press conference within UCMC project \u201cCommunities\u2019 Spokespersons\u201d we asked Major of Polyana, Mr. Ivan Drohobetsky, about the first results of decentralization reform for their community, the challenges they face and their future plans.<\/p>\n
Polyanska community unites nine villages. As the system of funding for local budgets has seen significant changes in the framework of decentralization reform, nowadays the total budget of the community grew to UAH 43 million, comparing to UAH 10 million before the reform. Polyana, a well-known tourist resort, was rather successful yet before the reform, however, its neighbors have a different story to tell. Now local authorities try to take advantage of this opportunity to improve the wellbeing of all community members. For instance, Rodnykivka, one of nine member villages, will receive UAH 4,5 million for its needs, comparing to UAH 600 thousand before the reform. \u201cIf you want to be a tourist resort, there must be order everywhere, not in your own yard only,\u201d Mr. Drohobetsky explains.<\/p>\n
Nowadays, Polyanska community prepares to host an international scientific conference on herbal supplements, scheduled for February 16. A small village may seem a strange place for this kind of events, but it is part of even more ambitious plan: the community intends to launch production of herbal supplements from plentiful local flora in an energy efficient, fully automatic hub in Rodnykova Huta. \u201cParadise of Springs\u201d will use green energy only, produced by solar and windmill farms. The preliminary project name is \u201cParadise of Springs\u201d (\u201cRodnykovyi Rai\u201d in Ukrainian). \u201cPeople usually see the Carpathians as a resort, but few think of them as a source of raw materials. In fact, here in the Carpathian mountains there are a lot of unique plants, which can\u2019t be found anywhere else. And we know that scientist and investors are already interested in our project,\u201d Drohobetsky says.<\/p>\n
Among the guests of the conference there will be representatives of Pavol Jozef \u0160af\u00e1rik University in Ko\u0161ice\u00a0 (Slovakia) and Slovakian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Uzhhorod National University, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, as well as representatives of the Ministry on Regional Development, Construction and Housing Ukraine. Among investors, there are representatives of Peking University. The expected result of the conference is a cooperation agreement between the parties. \u201cWe\u2019re talking about millions of euro. The salary of laboratory staff members will be up to EUR 2-2,5 thousand. I\u2019m sure, we will manage to find money, the main thing is to make a final decision that we want to start this project,\u201d emphasizes Polyana Major.<\/p>\n
\u201cParadise of Springs\u201d will use green energy only, produced by solar and windmill farms. \u201cWe decided to install cone-shaped solar panels. They are very efficient and need ten times smaller area than flat panels,\u201d explains Drohobetskyi.<\/p>\n
Rodnykova Huta is the most remote village of the community. The authorities hope that the project will be an opportunity to boost its economic development and will also attract investments to villages situated on the way to Rodnykova Huta.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"