WE DRAW ATTENTION For the four-month period of this year, agricultural economies and enterprises in the agricultural system in the district of Shkodër saved 622 thousand kilowatt-hours of electrical energy compared with what had been planned. Yet, strangely, 34 of the 40 economies in total have been obliged to pay more than two and a half million lekë in price differences. Why? They exceeded the plan in particular months. Is this fair, when at the waterworks enterprise, for example, this amount for March alone is more than 1.5 million lekë, or equal to all the expenses of the first quarter? Why did these overruns occur? What are the causes? To judge this and offer an opinion, let us look only at the waterworks directorate. For the first quarter, 1,513 thousand kilowatt-hours had been planned month by month for the pumping stations. This was for draining the land. But what happened? In January and February, rainfall was very low, far below the multi-year average. So there was no need for drainage. During these two months, less than 20 percent of the planned energy was consumed. In this way, we think, it is not possible to save electrical energy, but neither can agriculture be helped. The months and the years are not alike. Thus planning cannot be based on guesswork and remain inflexible. Is this fair to the enterprises and economies of the agricultural system? We think not, because the hydro-energy situation depends almost as much on weather conditions as does the situation in agriculture. Accurate planning of electrical energy, as has been done until now for each quarter in the agricultural sector, is not possible. We therefore think that something could also be reconsidered in the Council of Ministers’ decision, so as not to create obstacles to increasing production and its efficiency. Since financial indicators in this sector have now become confused, it means that something is wrong. Economic logic is missing from the way planning is done; without it, implementing the new mechanism for operating on an independent accounting basis becomes impossible. Indeed, we would say that even now, under these conditions, enterprises in the agricultural system—especially the waterworks and some of the pumping stations—have saved 2.4 million lekë, equal to 10 percent of total expenses. Because of the lack of rainfall, the planned energy would have filled the reservoirs with 10 million cubic metres of water, out of their capacity of 30 million. If the planned electrical energy is not exceeded, it is clear that the reservoirs will not be filled. As a result, more than 5,000–6,000 hectares of land will not be irrigated this year. The income from grain crops planted on this area is calculated at more than 40 million lekë. In the end, we gain 1 million and lose another 40. What would be the solution? One approach, given agriculture’s particular characteristics, is to monitor the consumption of electrical energy against the planned quotas progressively, month by month. The agricultural section should be given this authority so that, in cooperation with the relevant electrical-energy operating enterprises, it can also make changes from one economy to another, since climatic conditions are not the same throughout the district. The economies and the agricultural section know better than anyone where irrigation or drainage is needed, and so on. This is what Islam Tafa, an economist in the agricultural section, told us: «Nature does its own work in agriculture, while we do ours. You plan electrical energy for drainage for the January–March period, but later the need arises to irrigate wheat or other crops...» You have to correct the plans made three months earlier, restore them for each economy and redistribute them in line with the climatic conditions. The agricultural section has no authority to make these changes. The electro-agriculture enterprise should be the one to bring forward… … the administration of the “lands”? far below the long-term two months, not even 20 percent of the planned energy was consumed. Neither the water directorate nor the agricultural electrification enterprise deserves credit for these savings; they are the “merit” of natural conditions. And what about March? As a result of the unusual drought, irrigating the crops became the priority. In fact, during this month 985 thousand kilowatt-hours more than twice what had been planned were consumed. Given the special circumstances of this period, the issue raised at the executive committee of the district people’s council was… … expenses of 1 million and… Last year, for the months of November and December, this enterprise’s expenses increased by 1 million and… solely because of the difference in the price of electricity. … electricity is needed for a pumping station, an electric pump, irrigating a given area, etc. This way, the door is closed to abuses; indeed, the payment and burning of the price [?] yield results. … climatic conditions are not the same throughout all parts of the district. The economists and the agriculture section know better than anyone where irrigation is needed and where drainage is needed. Could this perhaps leave room for the waste of energy? This, too, can be addressed by setting carefully studied norms for each installed capacity. For example, calculating how much price [?] yield results.

With accurate calculations In recent years, enterprises in the construction system in Elbasan have moved to the forefront of the district’s other enterprises. Good organization of work in sectors and construction sites, and responsible follow-up of material and technical supplies, have made it possible to fulfil the plan steadily and hand over projects by the appointed deadline, often even ahead of time, thereby increasing the efficiency of investments. The construction-and-assembly enterprise of the Metallurgical Combine, one of the largest in the district and in the whole country, fulfilled its five-month tasks by 100.7 percent. Good work was done on the construction of industrial facilities, including the plywood factory, the wood combine and the ferrochrome plant in Elbasan, as well as the 27 other projects outside the district, such as in Jastër [?] in Berat, the Kërçë water supply system in Gramsh, the chrome-enrichment plant, and others. The housing construction enterprise, in addition to fulfilling its five-month plan, handed over 15 apartments above plan. It is now working to hand over on time the student facilities in Elbasan and Tirana, and the new building of the «Aleksandër Xhuvani» Higher Pedagogical Institute. The directors of these enterprises, Gjergji Dhima and Dhimitër Dule, say that they have often encountered difficulties in obtaining construction materials. Nevertheless, with the measures that have been taken, the tasks for the first six months of this year will be completed. However, in stepping up efforts to fulfil the annual plan, there are shortages of iron, timber, glass and prefabricated components. With the current supply situation for these materials, fulfilment of the plan for the second half of the year is not assured. This is said not to cast doubt on the importance of the plan at this stage, but to increase responsibility for implementing contracts. Many of these materials are produced domestically, and there is no reason for them to become an obstacle. SEJDIN CEKANI

- DURRËS - During this period, the construction sector in the district of Durrës has made some gains, but not to the extent required, and deficits have consequently arisen as well. The port construction enterprise has performed best. According to the figures, it fulfilled the period’s tasks at 107.4 percent. Its director, Petraq Bollo, says that despite some supply shortages, they built several facilities, including three warehouses for agro-exports, and carried out the tasks for constructing foreign-trade warehouses, work that is continuing. They have also mobilized to hand over, not as a nine-month project but as a seven-month one, the fishing enterprise’s pier, which will make it easier to service ships. Meanwhile, the construction enterprise has had an uneven performance during this period. Operational figures show 93.5 percent. Of course, we have used the telephone, telegrams, complaints and arbitration, etc., etc., but in practice nothing is moving. Secondly, during this period the construction enterprise received only 44 percent of the quantities of stone planned from Fushë-Kruja, 72 percent of the gravel [?] from Shkodër, and 92 percent of the iron. As for the latter, the Metallurgical Combine fulfilled its task for reinforcing steel to 102 percent, whereas the construction supply enterprise in Durrës managed only 65 percent. NN-Porti, too, although it worked with greater mobilization and generally fulfilled the tasks for this period—with the exception of the eastern quay, which has by now become an old «wound»—has had some shortages. This enterprise received only 65 percent of its iron from NFN and the Metallurgical Combine in Elbasan, and 30 percent of its stone from Fushë-Kruja. Another problem, in addition to the shortcomings that our construction colleagues in Durrës must remedy immediately, is that prefabricated components have arrived from Tirana but some elements are missing, thus disrupting the rhythm of construction. Nevertheless, it is primarily the duty of these enterprises in Durrës not to be satisfied with complaints alone, but to pursue the supply sources more seriously and secure the materials in full. «What do the managers of the construction enterprise in Korçë propose? It would be worthwhile, especially since we are dealing with scarce materials, for the producers to be given every condition needed to deliver the cement to the users’ warehouses. What is required? It is enough for the unbagged cement warehouse at the railway station to be placed under the factory’s administration. The users themselves—in this case, the construction enterprise—would then be responsible for collecting the cement from these warehouses. This is entirely possible, provided the construction enterprise’s transport fleet is given the necessary vehicles specifically designed for this type of transport, taking them away from the freight fleet, which uses them today.» The freight fleet says: «It depends on what goods you have at the station.» So the concern is acknowledged, but no one takes responsibility for it. They ask for the unbagged cement warehouse from the freight fleet, which uses them today.

The cement factory in Elbasan has a contract to supply the construction enterprise in Korçë. The contract stipulates that the cement be delivered to the construction enterprise’s warehouses. Is this condition being met? This is where an odyssey begins that completely undermines the arrangement. In order to fulfil its obligations to the construction enterprise, the cement factory makes a contract with the railway operating directorate, specifically the Guri i Kuq station. Here it seems to free itself of its responsibility, although the contract says it must «deliver» the goods to the user’s warehouse. What happens next? The carrier, Guri i Kuq station, becomes the «owner» of the cement and itself contracts with the freight depots in Korçë, Pogradec and Ersekë to distribute it. The freight depot itself has no contract with the user enterprises, in this case the construction enterprise. All these rather shaky links in the chain cause problems. What happens? The unpackaged cement is dumped into the station’s silos. The station decides where the vehicles will be sent. Do the station managers know about the construction enterprise’s urgent needs? That is of no importance. It is enough to meet the quotas for collecting goods. But the Korçë freight depot has a great many goods to collect. The depot managers are themselves informed of the construction enterprise workers’ concern. But their directorates have no legal obligations, only moral ones. The construction workers’ knocking on the three doors—of the factory, the station and the freight depot—produces no concrete result. Here are the usual replies: «We have done our part,» they say at the cement factory. «In line with our production output, we sent a quantity for you to the station. Take it up with the railway.» The station: «Ask your freight depot about it. If your depot sends vehicles, we’ll dispatch it to you.» The freight depot: for it. condition needed to deliver cement to the construction warehouses. Builders in this district, too, took initiatives some time ago to shorten construction deadlines. In addition to the subjective shortcomings of employees in the enterprise system, there are also some obstacles beyond their control. These problems have been known for a long time, but they are still not being resolved. The same method of work continues… The same method of work continues…

The chrome mine in Kalimash, in the district of Kukës, was given the name of the Hero of Socialist Labour, Sali Vata. On this occasion, a rally was held at the enterprise’s headquarters. Also present were comrade Besnik Bekteshi, member of the Political Bureau of the Party’s Central Committee and Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy; Mit Nito, First Secretary of the district Party Committee; and other comrades. On behalf of the Party Committee and the Executive Committee of the district People’s Council, the chairman of the district People’s Council’s Executive Committee, Muharrem Mezin, delivered the greetings. After unveiling the plaque inscribed «Chrome Mine “Sali Vata”, Kalimash – Kukës», comrade Besnik Bekteshi congratulated the mine’s collective, which has so far extracted more than 5,500 tonnes of chrome ore above plan, while concentrate production has exceeded the plan by more than 700 tonnes. He said that the results achieved are based on better work organization and the implementation of new forms of work, such as piece-rate work and target plans, worker services, and so on. A telegram was sent from the rally to the First Secretary of the Party’s Central Committee, comrade Ramiz Alia. (According to ATSH)

Within the framework of «Mediterranean Environment Week», work is continuing in the district of Tirana to improve conditions for protecting and creating cultural environments. In the city, villages, industrial and agricultural centres, activities are being held in accordance with the programmes drawn up, including propaganda activities such as bicycle [?] and lectures by researchers and specialists on protecting the environment, land and water from industrial pollution, etc. Meetings of this kind were held in four or five districts of the capital. Also within this framework, in recent days the Executive Committee of the district People’s Council, in cooperation with the Sociological Office [?] at the district Party Committee, organized an event in one of the halls of the Palace of Culture on ecological issues and environmental protection. Alongside the report of the working group set up for this purpose, 10 papers were also delivered on environmental protection and municipal waste and its processing. «Greenery and the natural monuments of Tirana and the Tirana region» in the service of health and the cleanliness of the workers’ cultural environment. «Ecology—and silence?». Continued on page 2

Meeting of workers’ amateur variety groups For 12 consecutive days, the meeting of workers’ amateur variety groups was held at the «Perlat Rexhepi» cinema club in the city of Vlorë, with the participation of nearly 300 worker-amateurs. The performance repertoires reflected the work and efforts being made in the collectives of this district to implement the decisions of the Party Central Committee’s recent plenums, especially those concerning implementation of the new economic mechanism. Many amateur singers, performers and instrumentalists also appeared at the festival at a good ideological and artistic level. Particularly memorable were the amateur troupes from the soda-PVC plant, the construction enterprise, PPT, the freight depot, the poultry-raising enterprise, etc. At the 7 Nëntori Theatre in the city, the People’s Council and the district Committee for Culture and the Arts organized a performance featuring selected numbers from this festival. The workers’ amateur variety groups are performing throughout the city and in workers’ towns, agricultural cooperatives and outside the district. Hundreds of art lovers attended with great interest the concert by the young laureate, student Mimoza Çakran, at the «Hysni Kapo» Palace of Culture. (According to ATSH)

The collective of the Electrotechnical Enterprise in the capital, working with great commitment, managed to complete the five-month plan at 101 percent. The good work of the employees in the coil-production department for export is worth noting; they are paying ever greater attention to the quality of their products in order to make further inroads into foreign markets. (Photos: N. Xhufka).