The rebuilding of Grozny and other towns in Chechnya may take decades if control over the spending of reconstruction funds is not tightened, Interior Minister Gen. Alu Alkhanov told a public meeting in Grozny on Thursday. \"We will be reconstructing Grozny and villages for decades without public control,\" he said. \"The lack of efficient control over economic and social reconstruction and payment of compensation for lost housing and property\" is a major problem in Chechnya, the minister said. \"Alas, administrations learn about embezzlement too late,\" he said. The entire reconstruction process, from the assignment of funds to the commissioning of projects, must be open and transparent, he said. People must know which sites are under construction, how much financing is involved, and how the funds are being spent, he said. Alkhanov said the future public council will not substitute for administrative agencies, but will \"supplement them and be in daily control of the spending of state funds.\" The meeting decided to set up a public council in Grozny to control the spending of federal funds and compensation for lost housing and property. Lechi Magomadov, deputy chairman of United Russia\'s regional executive committee, was elected to chair the council. Magomedov told Interfax that people who enjoy authority inside and outside of Chechnya have been elected to the council. (Interfax)