site.btaProsecution Office's Check Establishes over 200 Dangerous Dams

Sofia, November 22 (BTA) - Over half of the dams in Bulgaria are in a partially faulty state, a check launched by the prosecuting magistracy shows. No one has been penalized for failure to implement previously given prescriptions, and instead of fines, the violators have been given new prescriptions, Deputy Prosecutor General Assya Petrova said. Only in 11 cases the State Agency for Metrological and Technical Surveillance (SAMTS) has attempted to sanction the violators, the check reveals.

Nearly 80 dams are in a pre-emergency state, and 205 dams are dangerous for the population; the majority of dam owners do not observe the SAMTS' prescriptions, the prosecuting magistracy established. The Agency explains the lack of penalties with bad legislation but, according to Petrova, the Water Act contains provisions that allow the SAMTS to impose fines.

In Petrova's words, in March the Prosecution Office sought help from the Economy Ministry for a check of the SAMTS, but the report on the check was received just now and it supports the SAMTS' position that compulsory measures cannot be applied.

According to the prosecuting magistracy, the SAMTS' actions are highly reproachful. The repair works of Beli Iskar Dam have not began yet, despite long-established problems. The responsibility for carrying out the repairs has been transferred between several organizations. That is why several days ago the prosecuting magistracy referred the matter to the State and Sofia Municipality for urgent measures to be taken. A procedure is being launched that can end with the fining of the Regional Development and Public Works Minister over failure to take measures for the dam's fortification. According to the Prosecution Office, the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission is wrong in its position that the concession holder should not invest in the dam's fortification.

On Wednesday, Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova told journalists at the Council of Ministers that the Regional Development and Public Works Minister is expected to shortly entask the Sofia Regional Governor, as a representative of the State, with choosing one among several projects for the reconstruction of the Beli Iskar Dam's wall.

The dam is state-owned and is managed by Sofiyska Voda as the concession holder.