Shalva Kereselidze, the former governor of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region declares that the local authorities of Guria did not respond to the warning about the weather worsening by the National Environmental Agency, so the authorities did not start preparing for heavy snowfall in advance.
"When I talk about irresponsibility, this is exactly what I mean: every citizen of Georgia received a message that the weather was expected to deteriorate. Moreover, the National Environmental Agency sent specific information about the deterioration of the weather to local governments, regional administrations, ministries, everyone. No one reacted to this at the local level.
It is precisely after the disaster that the authorities begin to justify themselves, pretending to feel sorry for their population and citizens. Therefore, when we talk about irresponsibility and indifference, the first sign is that neither the local nor the central government reacted to this.
Large floods always follow heavy snowfall, if this is combined with warming temperatures and an increase in precipitation, the situation will worsen even further. Therefore, the government should start right now to repair drainage channels, build embankments, make dams, gabions and clean riverbeds," Shalva Kereselidze said.
