site.btaSocialists to Alert Prosecutor General about Minister's Allegations of Water Sector Problems

ESD 17:31:01 29-11-2020
VE1728ES.106
106 POLITICS - SOCIALISTS - ALERT - WATER SECTOR

Socialists to Alert Prosecutor General
about Environment Minister's Allegations
of Water Sector Problems


Sofia, November 29 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) plans to alert the Prosecutor General about information publicized by the Environment Minister alleging problems in the water sector. The opposition party saw in the Minister's Friday words in the National Assembly "facts of mismanagement, corruption, criminal inaction and deliberate action by government ministers, regional governors and mayors affecting irrigation systems, water reservoirs, water infrastructure and water treatment plants." The alert was announced by BSP leader Kornelia Ninova in a Facebook post.

On Friday, Environment and Water Minister Emil Dimitrov appeared at question time in the National Assembly on his own initiative to warn the legislature of an impending water crisis in the seaside city of Bourgas and possible water riots of farmers across Bulgaria over a shortage of water for irrigation. He blamed the situation on a combination of criminal actions and inaction (destruction of irrigation systems and failure to maintain what is left of them) on the part of the competent institutions. Dimitrov's strong words led to a meeting with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. The meeting seemed to dispel the cloud, and the government press service said that there will be no water crisis because all necessary precautions will be taken.

Immediately after Dimitrov's statement in the National Assembly, the BSP said his remarks showed how the whole government works, or does not work, and demanded the government's resignation.

In her Facebook post, Ninova wrote: "Water is a national asset and a matter of national security. We will alert the Prosecutor General about the reported facts. We will present to him a copy of the verbatim record of the parliamentary sitting so that he can start a check into possible crimes committed by government ministers, regional governors and mayors as well as Prime Minister Borissov's apparent failure to exercise control." LN/VE