RIGA, July 14 (LETA) - Daugavpils Mayor Andrejs Elksnins (Go Ahead, Latgale!) is skeptical about local governments’ ability to implement shelter conversion projects.

Elksnins told reporters on Tuesday municipal leaders also brought this issue to the attention of government representatives during the Cabinet field session in Rezekne Municipality.

"This initiative is at risk and, in my opinion, will not be implemented, as the allocated funding is EUR 42,000 per facility," said Elksnins. According to him, trends indicate that such an amount is sufficient only to develop project documentation, but the final cost is three or four times higher, given the building regulations that contractors must comply with.

Elksnins therefore doubts that municipalities can afford to implement shelter projects with this level of state support.

As reported, the local government of Daugavpils has announced a repeated procurement procedure for adapting facilities for civil defense purposes.

According to information on the Procurement Monitoring Bureau’s website, no bids were submitted in the first tender. The procurement involves the development of construction documentation, the performance of construction work, and design supervision to convert existing buildings into third-category emergency shelters.

The project involves rebuilding or renovating the premises to adapt them for the protection of people in the event of a disaster, military invasion, or war. Third-category shelters are designed to mitigate the risks posed by shock waves and debris from an external explosion.

The work will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines developed by the State Fire and Rescue Service regarding the minimum requirements for the construction of third-category shelters. The facilities will be equipped with power supply, lighting, and ventilation, and will comply with sanitation and hygiene requirements. The necessary equipment for the shelters’ operation will also be purchased during the project.

When adapting the premises, the needs of people with limited mobility will also be taken into account, ensuring that they can access the shelters independently or with the assistance of another person.

The total cost of the project is EUR 458,129. Of this amount, EUR 389,410 comes from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), while Daugavpils’s co-financing amounts to EUR 68,719. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of January 2028.