site.btaRazgrad Regional Representatives Discuss Measures for Cleaner Air Discussed at Meeting with Environment Minister,

Measures for clean air in Razgrad and current environmental issues in the region were discussed at a working meeting between a team of the Ministry of Environment and Water and institutions in Razgrad municipality. The meeting, initiated by MP Antoaneta Tsoneva, brought together representatives of the executive and legislative authorities to solve the problem.

The hosts were regional governor Vladimir Dimitrov and deputy regional governor Ivelina Ignatova. Dimitrov said that over the years the district governors have taken a number of actions on the urgent problem of clean air in Razgrad. Efforts have also been made to consolidate the district's water and sewerage sector, as this is a condition for a large-scale investment under EU programmes to upgrade the city's water treatment plant, which is cited as one of the sources of unpleasant odours in the city.

Environment and Water Minister Julian Popov said that a directive on clean air is being developed in the European Union, but there is still no clarity on how to solve such cases. He added that if the problem in Razgrad is successfully solved, good practice from here will also be reflected in the overall policy in Brussels.

MPs Antoaneta Tsoneva and Gunay Husmen also expressed their views on the matter.

A report on the Razgrad air cleanliness was presented to the participants in the discussion by Director of the Regional Environmental and Water Inspectorate in Ruse Tsonka Hristova, and the Chairman of the Municipal Council of Razgrad Stoyan Nenchev, who informed about the long-standing efforts of the local government to solve the problem and to implement a water cycle project in the city.

Simeonova pointed out that out of 28 regional cities 14 have already implemented the water cycle projects, one part is currently applying for projects and only six have no consolidation and cannot benefit from EU funds. She urged the local authorities in Razgrad district to unite and consolidate the water and sanitation sector in the region. 

Mayors of municipalities  presented to the Minister of Environment and Water other topical environmental issues, including the lack of state funding for the operation of the newly built City Wastewater Treatment Plant in Isperih and the need to implement a project for the discharge of industrial water from an enterprise in the municipality of Zavet.

At the end of the discussion, Minister Popov called for more frequent checks on the air cleanliness in Razgrad and for energy efficiency measures to be included in water cycle projects.

In conclusion, the District Governor Vladimir Dimitrov and his deputy Ivelina Ignatova pointed out that the best way to solve the problem is to achieve consolidation in the water and sewerage sector in our district. Later the Governor and his deputy also participated in the session of the Municipal Council in Razgrad, which was convened on the same issue.