2024-08-24 23:54:33
Nearly BGN 868 million have been earmarked for the design, construction and repair of water and sanitation infrastructure in municipalities, the press center of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works announced.
“So far, local authorities have submitted 318 projects for the modernization of water supply systems and facilities. And over 2,000 are at a different stage – from the process of concluding agreements or in procedures for advance or interim payment”. The Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Eng. Violeta Koritarova informed about this at the signing of 39 new agreements worth nearly 110 million. BGN with 19 municipalities under the Investment program for municipal projects.
In view of the drought, climate changes and water shortage, Minister Koritarova called on the mayors to direct their attention to projects for reconstruction, rehabilitation and construction of a new water transmission network, because the problems in them are deepening. “Let’s think together about the small settlements where the water transmission network is more than 40-50 years old. It must be replaced, because the losses of drinking water are significant,” the regional minister added. Eng. Koritarova appealed the projects for reconstruction and rehabilitation of water supply infrastructure to be agreed with the water supply operators. “It is important that the water supply companies have information about your projects, so that we do not duplicate activities, but upgrade them,” said the minister. And he added that in the conditions of prolonged drought and high temperatures, efforts should be made to reduce water use for non-domestic purposes and to have control.
The 39 new agreements concluded are with the municipalities of Tsarevo, Elena, Svishtov, Dupnitsa, Kyustendil, Berkovitsa, Trun, Dolni Dabnik, Levski, Knezha, Byala, Nedelino, Veliki Preslav, Yambol, Nessebar, Chavdar, Roman, Dimovo and Kazanlak.
6 of them are additional agreements to already concluded contracts with an approximate value of over BGN 35 million. Thus, since the beginning of the program, contracts for over BGN 2.5 billion have been concluded with the municipalities. And the advances paid to the municipalities are already in the amount of nearly BGN 118 million.
The good cooperation between the ministry and the municipalities, as well as the efforts made to implement the program, were also the focus of the discussions and shared opinion on both sides.