site.btaParliament Sets Up Ad Hoc Committee over Water Shortage Issues in Bulgaria

The National Assembly Wednesday decided to set up an ad hoc committee of inquiry into all facts and circumstances related to the water shortage problems in Bulgaria. The decision was adopted unanimously with 203 votes in favour.

The new committee will have 24 members, three per parliamentary group. It will be headed by Manol Genov of BSP - United Left, who received 123 votes in favour, 55 against, and 43 abstentions. In the course of three months, the Committee will look into data related to the inaction of competent bodies and will elaborate a report recommending specific measures at the level of the Legislature, the Executive, and local authorities.

The proposal for the ad hoc committee's establishment was tabled by Bogdan Bogdanov, Tatyana Sultanova, and MPs of Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria. The proposal reads that according to data as at November, over 250,000 Bulgarians in 72 municipalities are experiencing a water regime. The new committee should review the issues at present, including for those settlements where the water losses continue to exceed 70%, such as Pleven, Lovech, Shoumen, and Sevlievo.