site.btaCitizens Block Major Road in Another Protest against Water Shortage in Pleven

Citizens blocked the Byala-Botevgrad main road at the junction near the village of Yasen in Pleven Region on Sunday, protesting against a water supply crisis which has plagued the regional capital and the surrounding area for years and has sparked public protests on many occasions.

The demonstration began with a car procession from the Kaylaka Park, which made its way through the streets of Pleven. Participants then gathered at the road junction and blocked traffic in both directions. They promised to periodically let vehicles through to ease congestion.

According to organizer Borislav Tsvetanov, the protesters’ main demand is for a concrete solution to the water crisis. He stated that people are tired of empty promises and that from now on, they would dictate what needs to happen, as the authorities have failed to resolve the issue.

In his view, construction of the proposed Cherni Osam Reservoir should only proceed if all local mayors agree to it. The project has faced significant opposition.

As an immediate measure, Tsvetanov called for the restoration of running water in the pipelines and the urgent replacement of the water main linking the Cherni Osam River and the city of Pleven, under dual supervision and with public oversight.

The protesters have outlined several specific demands which they plan to announce during another demonstration on Sunday evening outside Pleven Municipality. “This would help ensure that Pleven has water,” Tsvetanov insisted.

He also claimed to be aware of sealed-off water sources that remain unused. According to him, this is being done deliberately in order to declare a state of emergency, bypass public procurement regulations, and allow certain companies to benefit from the allocated funds.

The first protest this summer against the water restrictions and shortages in Pleven and surrounding areas took place two weeks ago. A second demonstration followed last Sunday, during which protestors warned that if no action was taken and no tangible results achieved, they would consider blocking major roads.

On Thursday, the Municipal Council in Pleven held over four hours of hearings with experts and citizens to address the water crisis.

The water supply issue had sparked a wave of protests last year. Demonstrations began in early December and continued into the start of this year, totalling nine protests. In each case, the Byala–Botevgrad road was briefly blocked at the Yasen junction.