Two MPs of the Green Movement, a part of the Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria coalition, have submitted on Monday questions for Question Time in Parliament asking the Agriculture Minister Kiril Vatev and the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Andrey Tsekov whether the relevant regulations for construction in the mountains have been observed with the Rozhen Flagpole project. Announcing the questions Monday, the Green Movement said that the project has become highly divisive for the Bulgarian people and, while the aesthetic standards and notions of patriotism may vary, compliance with the law should not.
Rozhen Flagpole is an initiative for building a 111-metre pole to fly the Bulgarian flag in the Rhodope Mountains. Proposed by the Heritage in the Future Foundation (HFF), it is implemented through a national fundraising campaign and under the auspices of president Rumen Radev. Construction work started on June 9.
The Green MPs are asking Vatev whether the procedure for changing the designation of the agricultural property for non-agricultural purposes has been carried out; whether the procedure for changing the designation has been accompanied by a decision of the Smolyan Municipal Council and whether the investment plan has been considered in its entirety.
Tsekov has been asked whether a building permit has been issued; whether it has come into force and when; and whether all requirements of the law have been met.
Also on Monday, the Environment Ministry reported that the land designated for the pole is not within the boundaries of protected areas. The Ministry published a statement to that effect on its website based on an audit conducted by the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water in Smolyan after an alert submitted by the Balkani Wildlife Society. Photos from the pole construction site have been flooding social network sites with angry comments.
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