Resettlement from the old and emergency housing in the BAM regions: reasons, problems, solutions

Old and dilapidated housing occupies a large part of the housing stock in urban settlements by the Baikal-Amur railway mainline. The reasons of such disproportion have their roots in the history of the BAM construction in 1970s-1980s. The Soviet project was based on the settling of builders in temporary houses. Together with the completion of the construction works, relocation or disbandment of building companies the elimination of slum dwelling and relocation of its residents was started. There are at least three public discourses on the problem: economic inexpediency of exploitation of such houses, the need to reduce the population in the BAM areas and fire safety. The implementation of state programs to eliminate dilapidated housing began in 2011. In accordance with the current legislation, regional and municipal programs for the resettlement of local residents were developed. Financing of program activities is carried out from the federal, regional and local budgets. It depends on the number of dilapidated buildings, the financial possibilities of the regions and other factors. The most intensive programs were implemented in the period from 2011 to 2012. The program indicators for resettlement were almost fully implemented. However, due to the lack of financing, the problem of dilapidated housing in the towns and settlements of the Baikal-Amur Mainline is not solved yet.