site.btaEnvironment Minister Withdraws Order which Excluded Two Landplots from Vitosha Nature Park

Sofia, January 16 (BTA) - Environment and Water Minister Neno Dimov withdrew an order which excluded two landplots from the Vitosha Nature Park just outside Sofia, Dimov's ministry reported on Tuesday.

The two landplots, whose aggregate area is about one hectare, had been excluded from the Vitosha Nature Park pursuant to two judgments rendered by the Supreme Administrative Court in 2016 and 2017. The judgments repealed an earlier refusal of the Minister of Environment and Water to exclude these properties from the park.

Tuesday's withdrawal of the ministerial order came after the Nature Bulgaria Coalition filed a claim with the Supreme Administrative Court. The coalition argues that despite the court judgments, the competent authority should have conducted a probe to see whether the two landplots possess the characteristics of protected areas. Therefore, the Environment Minister decided to order another check to sort things out.

The original proposal for the exclusion of the two properties from the nature park in Mount Vitosha was made in 2003.