site.btaPrime Minister Discusses Disaster Response with Regional Governors

Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev received regional governors and deputy governors from across Bulgaria on Friday for a discussion on how to address water shortage and natural disasters more effectively.

He said the water shortage issue is not something new. "You would agree that 50% water loss through the water supply system is absolute wastefulness and absolutely unacceptable amid everything that is happening in connection with climate change," the Prime Minister argued.

He called for direct and speedy coordination between the central government ministers and the regional governors. He noted that the ministers formulate the general policy within their respective portfolio, and the governors serve as a transmission drive between the central authorities and the local communities.

Some problems have remained unresolved for years, and the present caretaker government can get things going, Glavchev said. Recent emergency situations caused by wildfires and hailstorms made it clear that disaster response should be even faster, according to him.

"We must certainly focus on prevention rather than trying to catch up with events when disaster strikes," Glavchev said.

He noted that riverbeds should be cleared to avoid floods. "Measures should be taken in advance to reduce the damage from such events as much as possible," he said.