„Half an hour after the earth masses started to go down, we started to mobilize teams. They went to the field, we have drone surveys. We wanted to make sure that there was no seepage from the dam that would activate this earth mass. We made sure that there was no problem. There is no other problem – the landslide itself could activate the dam to go down”, said Ivan Hristanov, Acting Minister of Agriculture and Food.
The dam wall is stable, he assured. „The dam is full, the level is stable. There is a leak, about 60 liters per second, which is not much – the leak is small and the inflow is small. So in this regard we can be calm. "The geologists and the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works are already there," said Hristanov.
The ministry has no data on illegal logging in the region. More data will be provided on Monday.
A problem for the Smolyan region was centuries-old forests registered as pastures. "On Monday, all regional agriculture directorates, all municipalities and state forestry enterprises will receive my orders to prohibit this logging," said Hristanov.
He assured that all dams are monitored by the competent institutions.
About the inspection of the State Hunting Farm "Iskar."
"There is a huge building there, absolutely illegal. We are trying to find any document. There is no such building on the cadastral map. And it is really huge. In its first third, two wings have been formed, in which apartments have been made - 4-5. It is precisely this type of apartments that we saw during the inspection of “Vedra” - another building associated with Rumen Gaitanski - Valka. The company that used the State Hunting Farm is associated with him. The new building was built by the concessionaire. We called it “the most invisible building in Bulgaria”, because it is amazing how no one has noticed it for 7-8 years”, said Hristanov.
”The first part is like a hotel, with huge beds provided. The second part is a hall, in which there are vehicles of the concessionaire. Apparently, he decided that he would use the state property as a warehouse. A ventilation system is stored. There are four vehicles - three of the concessionaire, the fourth of the “Wolf” company. The concessionaire is “Bio Mining”, said Hristanov.
He explained that the State Hunting Farm “Iskar” is 40,000 decares. It was established in 1969.
On Monday, the Ministry of Interior and the Prosecutor's Office will be notified, and disciplinary inspections will be ordered. “Whoever turned a blind eye will bear responsibility”, said Hristanov.
According to him, it would be a sin to demolish such a building. “Together with the regional governor and fellow experts, we will discuss the possibility of the buildings remaining on the hunting farm and being legalized”, said Hristanov.