site.btaEnvironmentalists Sound Alarm over Effects of Hydropower Plants

Environmentalists Sound Alarm over Effects of Hydropower Plants

Sofia, July 14 (BTA) - Andrey Kovachev of the Balkans Wildlife
Society told a BTA-hosted news conference on Tuesday that 220
hydropower plants are violating EU directives and measures
recommended in 2010 to bring these facilities in line with the
Habitats Directive have not been implemented.

In early July the environmentalists sent a complaint to the
European Commission over small hydropower plants.

Kovachev warned that unless urgent measures are taken, his
organization will insist that the European Commission opens an
infringement procedure against Bulgaria. He added that 220 small
 hydropower plants have been built and are operating in
protected areas under Natura 2000 and that there is no wildlife
in these areas.

Dimiter Koumanov of the Balkanka fishing club said that a
website monitors hydropower plants for open fishways and water
in the river. According to him, there are no regulations on the
design of hydropower plants.

Ivan Hristov, head of the WWF's Water Programme, drew attention
to the problem with the clearing of riparian vegetation as river
 forests are key to protecting banks from erosion. According to
him, 80 per cent of the accessible water resources of rivers
have already been utilized and the remaining 20 per cent are in
the lower sections of the rivers, where the risk of flooding is
highest.

Environmentalists said that over 3 per cent of the main rivers
in Natura are destroyed by hydropower.