site.btaOpposition Socialists Challenge Efficiency of Waste Treatment Plant, Street Repairs in Sofia

Sofia, August 17 (BTA) - Retaliating for GERB's criticisms about the Tsankov Kamuk Dam, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) challenged the efficiency of the household waste treatment facility and the street repairs in Sofia.

The Socialists called a news conference on Thursday, prompted by a transcript of Wednesday's Cabinet meeting and, in particular, by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's statement that "GERB will refer Tsankov Kamuk to the prosecution service now because it is not working, just as if a non-operational waste treatment plant has been built".

Former deputy prime minister Deniza Slateva, who is now member of the BSP leadership, noted that there is a lack of communication among ministers, the Prime Minister and MPs regarding Tsankov Kamuk. "A scheduled renovation of a hydraulic engineerig facility cannot justify a referral to the prosecution service," she argued. "Such scheduled repairs are planned in advance, while the prosecution service has already determined that there is no evidence of a criminal offence," Slateva said.

Sofia's household waste treatment facility took two years to build at the cost of 345 million leva and was commissioned in September 2015.

"The household waste treatment facility was expected to achieve specific results: after processing of the waste only 10 per cent was supposed to be landfilled," BSP MP Georgi Svilenski said. "Two years after its launch these target figures cannot be reached," he noted. "This expensive facility does not operate efficiently at present, and Sofia Municipality has been forced to open a separating line at which 50 workers separate the garbage manually," Svilenski said.

The BSP also commented on the award of a concession for the Intermodal Terminal in Plovdiv on Wednesday. "This is yet another plunder of Bulgarian society," said Svilenski. The Socialists have requested a suspension of the procedure.

Regarding the checks into violations of the legal requirements about noise levels at seaside resorts, initiated by Deputy Prime Minister Valeri Simeonov, the BSP said that such a serious issue cannot be resolved in the disco clubs into the night.

GERB responded by accusing the BSP of sending "manipulative and false messages".

"The procedure for the Intermodal Terminal near Plovdiv is completely open and fair, and it has been notified to the European Commission regarding State aid," Transport Minister Ivaylo Moskovski said. He added that "two BSP governments: the one headed by [Sergei] Stanishev and the one headed by [Plamen] Oresharski, have confirmed that this project will be implemented through a concession."

"While the BSP was in government, 14 concession agreements for transport infrastructure were concluded and the three largest state-owned transport companies were privatized. During the BSP's term in office, there have been three concessions with a single candidate each," Moskovski pointed out.