site.btaConstruction Companies Rally to Defend Their Industry

105 POLITICS-CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES-PROTEST-DEMANDS

Construction Companies
Rally
to Defend Their Industry


Sofia, December 12 (BTA) - Construction companies are holding a protest on Wednesday to defend their industry and raise demands for rules. Building equipment is deployed for nearly 11 km alongside the centrebound lanes of Tsarigradsko Chaussee Boulevard without blocking traffic.

The protest is organized by the Bulgarian Construction Chamber. Its chairman Iliyan Terziev told reporters that the protest is an expression of the industry's resentment to being used for political purposes. He said that the protest was prompted by an allegation that the industry is opposed to inspections on construction sites. He noted that each construction project has a warranty period and mistakes and irregularities have to be removed which the industry is doing. Terziev said that the quality of repair works in Bulgaria is not worse compared with the work of foreign construction companies. He underscored that the industry is not against quality checks but against the unsubstantiated allegations.

Asked to comment on a demand by the opposition Socialist Party for European checks into road construction quality, Terziev recalled that the construction activities are based on EU rules and checks are carried out according to EU rules by certified laboratories.

Terziev said: "We want the industry to operate according to rules and schedules so that we can distribute resources and stay here." He said that the protest is not politically motivated. Terziev would not say how the protests would go on if their demands went unheeded, adding that it would be up the Chamber leadership and its members.

The industry calls for changes to the legislation and rules for the implementation of construction works. They are demanding changes to the Public Procurement Act, including elimination of the highest price requirement, which is used as a basis for disqualifying companies bidding for contracts.

Later the Chamber's leadership will submit signatures in support of the construction industry and a letter with their demands to the National Assembly, the Council of Ministers and the Presidency. LI/PP



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