**: Han Yu writes.
Editor: Han Yu writes.
In the cold winter months, the streets and alleys of Moscow are filled with a chill. Many residents have their heating systems in their homes stopped working and were forced to stay in the freezing cold of the room. Recently, a number of cities in Moscow Oblast have had a serious problem of large-scale heating stops, resulting in many residents freezing in the severe cold and being forced to light fires on the streets for heating, which has attracted great attention.This incident even alarmed Vladimir Putin in Russia, but the problem has not been effectively resolved to this day。Behind the collapse of the heating system is the systemic problems of Russia's infrastructure in disrepair and insufficient investment.
The incident was caused by an unusually cold in the Moscow region. At temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius, the aging and disrepaired heating network was too much to bear, and widespread heating interruptions began. Residents of the village of Vorovsky reported that the utility company was reluctant to increase the amount of heat supply, otherwise the entire village would be stopped heating.
Residents of the SCHOTT region said that heating and water supply have been completely stopped in the area since January 1. Other cities, such as Solnechnogorsk and Podolsk, have also experienced a lack of heating, with residents having to keep warm in cold interiors in coats and sweaters.
Faced with the paralysis of heating, many Moscow residents chose to take to the streets and light fires outdoors to keep warm。Residents of the municipality of Litcarino gathered in the streets to light a fire, * the authorities have not responded to the failure of the heating system. "We are frozen, the house is very cold, we can only make a fire outside to keep warm, and we ask to face up to this problem. ”
Residents said angrily. More than 10,000 residents of Podolsk also suffered from the cold due to the lack of heating. The heating crisis has caused strong dissatisfaction among residents, and the governor of the Moscow region, Vorobyov, has had to face questions from residents. During a conversation with the citizens of Podolsk, Vorobyov assured that he would always be at his post and would not run away from problems.
But the governor did not give a satisfactory explanation for the cause of the failure of the heating system. Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Investigative Committee pointed out that the failure of the heating system was mainly due to the aging of the equipment and related malfeasance. Indeed, the disrepair of infrastructure has become a cancer that has plagued Russia for many years.
According to statistics, 40 percent of housing and public service facilities in Russia are in urgent need of repair。Under Western sanctions, Russia's fiscal revenue has been greatly reduced, and the funds that can be invested in infrastructure construction are very limited. Despite this, the root of the problem lies in the long-term neglect of people's livelihood.
While oil and gas exports bring in huge revenues, Russia has invested too much money in areas such as military warfare. Up to one-third of Russia's budget for 2024 will be the defense budget. At the same time, investment in people's livelihood construction, especially infrastructure, is declining.
The paralysis of the heating system is only the tip of the iceberg, exposing the serious bias of the concept of governance. At this point, Russia must face up to the crisis caused by the disrepair of infrastructure and increase investment in maintaining old heating systems. At the same time, it is necessary to readjust the structure of fiscal expenditures, appropriately reduce military expenditures, and use more funds to improve people's livelihood.
It is imperative that the heating system be repaired as soon as possible to ensure that residents survive the rest of the winter。No matter how severe the external environment is, we must take the improvement of the people's quality of life as the foundation of governance. Only by allowing the people to live a prosperous and healthy life can the country be stable and united, and the society be harmonious and stable.
The widespread shutdown of heating in the Moscow region, which has left many residents frozen in the bitter cold, has exposed systemic problems in Russia's infrastructure sector.
* We must reflect on our mistakes and intensify infrastructure construction, instead of blindly pouring resources into military struggles. Allowing the people to live a happy life is the foundation of the world, and it is also the cornerstone of social progress. The people's yearning for a better life will eventually overcome all cold winters and usher in the sunshine of social development.