site.btaPrime Minister Urges Better Coordination among Local, Central Government over Water Shortages

"I’m giving a two-week deadline for better coordination, otherwise, there will be personnel changes," said Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov regarding ongoing water shortages during a briefing in Kostinbrod, where earlier he attended the opening of a new kindergarten

Approached whether the regional governor of Pleven could lose his position, the Prime Minister said: "Yes, consider this a yellow card for the regional governor."

Zhelyazkov stressed that coordination between local and central authorities must be improved. He added that while experts are being posted from Sofia, they should not be doing the job of the local authorities. This, he noted, also applies to the responsibilities of the regional governor in dealing with such ongoing issues.

Regarding water shortages, the Prime Minister said he sees a pattern of collective blame-shifting and negligence. He reminded that mayors have been advised to "redefine projects" that are not of immediate importance to people’s quality of life  such as sports hall.

“The underground infrastructure may be invisible, but it is the most important,” Zhelyazkov commented.

Zhelyazkov gave the example of the water cycle in Kostinbrod, “because there is an ambitious mayor.”

“In Pleven, unfortunately, over the years we have had neither an ambitious mayor nor a serious attitude toward the water issues,” the Prime Minister commented.

 On Wednesday, the ministers of Regional Development and Public Works, of Environment and Water, and of Agriculture and Food are expected to report to the Prime Minister and the government on the actions taken under all measures to address the water crisis.

“Let the experts make the proposals, but first and foremost, water losses must be stopped, which in some places exceed 80%,” Zhelyazkov said.

He recommended that ministers and members of the crisis task force on the water shortage in Pleven invite protest organizers to their meetings to ensure oversight and track the implementation of the proposed actions.

On Monday, residents of Pleven piled empty water jugs and bottles at the entrances of the Municipality building and the office of the local water utility in protest against the ongoing water crisis.