Politics

00:10, 14.08.2007 | Sakhalin Region

Alexander Khoroshavin has been sworn in as new Governor of Sakhalin Region at a ceremony that took pace in the regional administration's conference hall on Saturday.

In the presence of about 200 people, Khoroshavin took an oath of allegiance to the residents of Sakhalin Region and received a gubernatorial certificate.
Later in the day, the new Governor went ahead with tackling matters aimed at eliminating the aftermath of the earthquake in the town of Nevelsk. Over there, more than 200 quake-stricken houses are to be pulled down. Ten houses have been dismantled so far, according to the data of the Far Eastern regional center of the Russian Ministry for Emergencies. One tent camp with more than 200 dwellers remains in Nevelsk. Questions of providing them with housing accommodation must be decided upon.
A shift-rotation settlement for 100 builders has been set up in the town. They are busy repairing houses that endured the earth jolts but sustained cracks and other damage. The population of Nevelsk is slightly more than 16,000. About 3,000 of them currently lack housing accommodation.
Governor Khoroshavin has issued an order to expedite the dismantling of houses that are beyond restoration. Houses that will have not more than three storeys and designed to withstand nine-point earthquakes will be built in Nevelsk instead.

- Itar-Taas