site.bta 50 Dams in the Country Should Be Drained and Repaired

50 Dams in the Country Should Be Drained and Repaired

Sofia, May 10 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova and Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Lilyana Pavlova inspected the condition of the Rogozen 1 and Burzina dams on Monday, both situated in Northwest Bulgaria. Partial state of emergency was previously announced in the Hairedin and Mizia municipalities due to the critical condition of the two dams.

Buchvarova explained that the purpose of the follow-up inspection is to check the result of the measures undertaken and draw up a list of urgent activities, which are expected to have a preventive effect.

Buchvarova and Pavlova took part in a working meeting at the Regional Centre for the Protection of Population against Disasters in Hairedin, Northwest Bulgaria. The Mayor of Hairedin is subject to a fine of up to 10,000 leva under the Waters Act for failure to comply with the prescriptions for the Rogozen 1 Dam issued on February 3, 2016. State Agency for Metrological and Technical Surveillance (SAMTS) Chairman Stefan Tsankov said that there is no threat for the population as at the current moment and that the crisis situation has been contained.

Fifty dams in the country, including Rogozen 1, should be drained and urgently repaired, the Agency said. Since the beginning of the year inspectors of the Surveillance of Dam Walls and Facilities Chief Directorate have performed 1,250 checks of dams across the country and have issued over 7,000 prescriptions. SAMTS appeals to the mayors to lower the water mark of dams across the country in order to eliminate potential threat for the population from the expected torrential rains.