Discussion of the petitions initiated by the citizens launched in the self-governances of Khulo Municipality

Within the frame of the project “Petition – People’s Voice in the Self-governance” by the Institute of Democracy five petitions initiated by the Citizens were referred to Khulo Municipal Council.

The initiators of the petitions requested:

1.To arrange the sign-boards showing the addresses in the villages and settlement on the territory of Khulo Municipality.
According to the electronic data by the Civil Register’s Service, majority of the electorate registered in Khulo Municipality have not defined registered legal addresses (street, alley). Relevantly, for foreign tourists and citizens living in Georgia it is difficult to find specific sites. Leaving this issue unsettled in most cases creates problems for delivering post parcels to the addressee, as well as for first aid and rescue services.
2. To launch a Municipal Program for co-funding the Business planned in Khulo Municipality with the purpose of supporting citizens’ self-employment.

Local business planned in the sphere of agriculture will be better co-funded under the Municipal Program with certain percentage (not more than 30%), being finances by other state program or donor organization with not less than 70%.
2.To rehabilitate the road leading to the tourist site located on Goderdzi Pass “Green Lake” and arrange the signs

This site is the most popular among the tourists in Khulo Municipality, though the road leading to this lake is so unsettled that it can be accessed by only high two-bridge cars. There are neither the sings defining the directions to the Green Lake.
Rehabilitation of this road will significantly increase tourist potential of Ajara Autonomous Republic.

3.To establish Public Feast “Khuloeloba”

Khulo is the most high-mountainous municipality of Ajara Autonomous Republic, with rich historical and geographical past. Old name of Khulo – “Khula” means Trade House. Trade-caravan road was passing there in the medieval, connecting Samtskhe-Javakheti with Ajara Black Seaside via Goerdzi Pass. Unfortunately, no special date has been set in Khulo Municipality up to now, related to Khulo history and Khuloeloba.

5. To consider relevant programs in the next year budget for rehabilitation of the locally important highway by Khulo.
During recent years, management of locally important automobile roads within the administrative borders of Khulo Municipality has not been undertaken by Khulo Municipality (relevant programs are not functioning).

Out of 20 municipalities in project target three regions of Georgia (Ajara, Guria, Samegrelo-Upper Svaneti) only one municipality has the practice of settling the issue in the form of a municipality.
The representatives of self-governance welcome civic activation and express readiness to cooperate upon settlement of specific issues within the competence of Municipal Council. The Institute of Democracy in cooperation with partner organizations expresses willingness to strengthen civic activation with joint cooperation.