site.btaVazrazhdane MP Blames Ex-Prime Minister Borissov and VMRO Party for Air Pollution in Veliko Tarnovo

Vazrazhdane MP Angel Yanchev on Tuesday blamed GERB leader and ex-prime minister Boyko Borissov and the VMRO party for air quality issues in Veliko Tarnovo caused by the Kronospan plant. Speaking to journalists at the BTA press club in the northern town, Yanchev noted that one month has passed since Vazrazhdane organized a protest against air pollution caused by the activities of the wood-processing company, which also uses drinking water to cool its filters.

“This protest clearly provoked a great deal of activity, both from our political opponents in GERB and from the company itself, which has now submitted an investment proposal to the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water (RIEW) for the installation of new filters worth EUR 20 million,” Yanchev said.

He added that the company received its integrated environmental permit in 2019, when GERB leader Borissov was prime minister, and the director of the Executive Environment Agency was a representative of VMRO, then a coalition partner in the government.

According to Yanchev, it was not the mayor of Veliko Tarnovo who brought in the “Class A” investor — who benefits from administrative privileges — but representatives of the central government. He stressed that Borissov bears full political responsibility for that decision, while Mayor Daniel Panov cannot be blamed, since such matters fall outside the powers of any mayor. Yanchev said he had requested detailed information from the RIEW director regarding the parameters and type of the new filters.

Until a new air-quality monitoring station promised by the Ministry of Environment and Water is installed, Vazrazhdane will continue to monitor pollution levels through sensors placed at various points across the town. So far, a significant decrease in fine particulate matter has been recorded, Yanchev explained. He added that, for the time being, the party has no plans to organize another protest, but continues to closely observe the actions of all institutions and of the management of the wood-processing company.

Air pollution from Kronospan has been a persistent issue in Veliko Tarnovo. Visiting the town on September 29, Environment and Water Minister Manol Genov said pollution and odours coming from the company’s production site were the biggest nuisance for local people. On October 1, the ministry said that authorities halted the operation of a substrate cutting line at the plant after inspections revealed that the company did not comply with the conditions set out in its integrated environmental permit. On November 7, Health Minister Silvi Kirilov dismissed the Director of the Regional Health Inspectorate in Veliko Tarnovo, Evgenia Nedeva, and ordered an urgent investigation into all facts and circumstances related to air quality in the town.