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The Legislative Duma of Tomsk Oblast
February 28, 2008.
XIII Session of the Tomsk Oblast State Duma
 39 issues on the agenda. The deputies of the Oblast Duma considered and approved a draft of Tomsk Oblast Energy Strategy till 2020. It is a regional document which sets goals for various sectors of the regional energy complex, for the regional economy on the whole, and for regional and local authorities. It is clearly stated in the Strategy that our present and future are largely defined by the development of nuclear and coal energy sector. It is planned in 2008-2020, according to the Strategy, to invest in the regional energy complex 166.4bn rubles. The major part of investments will be poured into construction of Seversk nuclear power station (68 %) and power lines of different voltages (22%).
The experts forecast that, by 2020, annual energy consumption in the region will double, compared to 2005, due to the implementation of large-scale projects on expanding production capacities in oil, gas, petrochemical, timber industries, and development of Bakchar iron ore deposit. However, the transmission of energy via the existing networks has already become technically impossible. Provided that all the goals set in the Strategy are accomplished, Tomsk Oblast will turn from an energy-deficit into an energy-exporting region, and take a proper position among the leading energy-producing regions.
The law On Deputies’ Investigation in Tomsk Oblast was adopted in the second reading. The draft law was approved in the first reading during the XIIth neeting of the Duma, and amended to be considered in the second reading. The deputies have considerably enhanced the scope of their authorities in protecting the voters’ interests by means of adopting a special law which secures the deputies’ authorities in exercising control over observance of laws in the Oblast. The overriding goal of the Deputies’ investigation is to ensure a comprehensive and unbiased examination of events which have drawn a wide social and political response.
Following the adoption of amendments to the Oblast Law On Basic Principles of Improvement of Urban and Rural Landscapes in Tomsk Oblast, the deputies established the extent of responsibility for violation of regulations for maintenance of facades, decorations, shop windows, as well as for non-compliance with placement regulations for temporary objects in the territory of a municipal formation. The aforementioned regulations are established by the local authorities.
A draft law On Prevention of Offences in Tomsk Oblast was considered in the first reading. The law aims at protection of rights, freedoms, and legitimate interests of citizens from unlawful acts. The draft law defines the main scope of prevention activities such as counter-terrorism measures, prevention of drug abuse, violations of highway regulations, preventive measures in the economy, etc.
The deputies began elaborating a regulatory framework aimed to improve the quality of life of Tomsk people. A draft law defining the scope of relevant activities considered in the first reading during the session became the first step in this direction.
A decision was taken by the deputies to transfer the funds allocated from the regional budget to conduct assisted circulation operations on plastic repair of heart defects and cardiac ruptures which are needed only occasionally, to the more demanded kinds of medical assistance. Tomsk Oblast population will be able to afford state-of-the-art cardiac surgery In 2008 Tomsk cardiologists will provide emergency care for 230 more patients.
The Oblast legislators adopted in the first reading the law On Particularly Valued Farming Lands in Tomsk Oblast which is directed against the misuse of fertile lands.
In the second reading was considered a draft law On Quality Standards for Social State Services Financed from the Regional Budget (Budget Services). The quality standards in this sphere shall be submitted to the relevant Duma committees for approval. Social state services include services provided by institutions of health care, culture, education, social protection, youth policy, physical culture and sport, orphanages and homes for children in difficulties, employment service offices. The amended law adopted by the Duma in the second reading aims to improve the quality of services provided to Tomsk Oblast population. It defines general compulsory guidelines for executive public authorities in elaboration and approval of the relevant standards.
The Oblast parliament approved the procedure for provision of Tomsk Oblast state guarantees. The draft law defines potential recipients of state guarantees - municipal formations in Tomsk Oblast, legal entities which obtain credits and loans for implementation of investment projects implying capital investments, and legal entities implementing social projects in the Oblast. The law requires that state guarantees be provided only on a competitive basis.
The deputies considered and approved adjustments to the budget for 2008 and for the planned period of 2009-2010 submitted by Aleksander Fedenev, Head of Tomsk Oblast Finance Department. The total amount of revenues to the regional budget for 2008 increased by 498m rubles, expenditures - by 615m rubles, deficit - by 117m rubles. These adjustments entailed amendments to the law On Oblast Budget Expenditures on Investment and Innovation Activity in Tomsk Oblast for 2008. Taking the amendments into consideration, expenditures on investment and innovation activity in 2008 total 4.3bn rubles.
The deputies also approved the statute on the regional competition for the best reading family of Tomsk Oblast Family Reading. Oblast.
Activity report for the previous year rendered by the Labour and Social Policy Committee of the Tomsk Oblast State Duma.
The Committee held 16 sessions where over 240 issues were considered. 17 basic Laws of Tomsk Oblast submitted by the Committee were adopted by the Oblast Duma, among them the law On Implementation of State Policy in the Sphere of Culture and Art in Tomsk Oblast, On Labor Veterans of Tomsk Oblast; 53 laws on amendments to the current Oblast laws. The Committee elaborated 12 addresses to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and to the Government of the Russian Federation.
Activity report for the previous year rendered by the Economic Policy Committee of the Tomsk Oblast State Duma.
The Committee held 15 sessions (including one visiting session), adopted 130 decisions. It prepared and issued 158 draft regulations for the Duma sessions; considered and prepared for adoption 15 new basic laws (including one regional target program) and 37 laws on amendments to the current Oblast laws (including amendments to 10 regional target programs).
Out of 52 laws issued by the Committee and adopted by the Duma, 10 were drafted and submitted by the deputies-members of the Committee. The Committee also heard 3 reports by the Tomsk Oblast Administration on the performance of previously adopted laws.
During the sessions of the Committee and standing commissions there were considered previously submitted to the RF Federal Assembly State Duma 108 draft federal laws on issues of joint involvement of the Russian Federation and its entities, 68 legislation initiatives, 74 adresses from the RF entities.
The Committee prepared two addresses of the Tomsk Oblast State Duma to the Speaker of the RF Federal Assembly State Duma and to the Chairman of the RF Government.
During A Governor’s Hour the deputies heard the information on the progress of the regional target program Development of Tomsk Oblast Timber Industry Complex for 2003 - 2010.
The chairman of the State Duma of Tomsk Oblast Boris Maltsev held a traditional press-conference for journalists during the break.
The speaker emphasized that the majority of issues on the agenda concern the improvement of life quality for the population of the region. Here he mentioned the adoption of the Tomsk Oblast Energy Strategy till 2020. “Somebody might think that this document targets only the industry - in expanding production capacities in oil, gas, petrochemical, timber industries, as well as the construction of Bakchar mining and smelting complex by 2020 will require twice as much as we consume today. It’s true. Yet, each and every individual who wants to enjoy such amenities as TV set, fridge, other home appliances - will need access to a reliable source of power. Unless we change anything, soon the region will face shortages of electricity.
Therefore, we need to think it over right now and to decide how to avoid these shortages. The Strategy determines the necessary actions and time limits. The actions are the following.
- Construction of new facilities (Seversk nuclear power plant);
- Reconstruction and modernization of currently operating facilities;
- Utilization of accompanying gas from oil fields for power generation;
- Setting up electric power plants which operate on renewable and unconventional energy resources (peat, wood waste,biofuel).
There are plenty of things to do. But, without any doubt, Seversk nuclear power plant will become the forerunner. We will not manage to ensure energy security in the region unless we implement this project. Thus, we shift the course of our power industry development from coal-gas to nuclear-coal-gas…
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