site.btaEdirne Requests Water from Bulgaria's Dams to Drop in Maritsa and Tundzha River Flows

Since the recent severe heatwaves in the Edirne area, the flow of the Maritsa River has dropped to a critical level. The Vali of Edirne has taken the initiative to request the Bulgarian side to release water from the dams to fill the riverbed, the Haberler website reported. 

The decline in the waters of the Maritsa and Tundzha rivers was discussed at a meeting of the Edirne Vileyat [Governor] Yunus Sezer, Fatma Aksal from the ruling Justice and Development Party in Edirne with the head of the 11th Regional Water Directorate, Faruk Yudzekyok.

During the meeting, it was decided to ask for assistance from the Bulgarian side to release more water from the dams to increase the flow of the Maritsa and Tundzha rivers, which run through the territory of Edirne Province.

Aksal said they had informed Turkish Agriculture Minister Ibrahim Yumaklı of the situation, who said he would talk to his Bulgarian counterpart about the issue.

The Maritsa and Tundzha rivers, which flow from Bulgaria and pass through Edirne Province, are used to irrigate rice, which is the main agricultural crop in the region.

According to the 11th Regional Water Directorate, the flow rate of the Tundzha River has dropped to 2 cubic metres per second.