Theft of water is the main cause of the water shortage in Bulgaria, and not only in the water supply systems, for which it is claimed that there were losses. According to a statement by a former minister of the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy, there are more than 1,000 illegal connections from the "Cherni Osam" dam, where the water for Pleven comes from, and this is done with the knowledge of the waterworks operator, and deductions are made from these illegal connections.
This is what Dimitar Kumanov from the "Balkanka" Association said in an interview with BNR.
He recalled that BGN 42 million was paid by the World Bank for River Basin Management Plans, but there are still no plans and it is already three years late.
Kumanov is categorical that the reason for the lack of water in populated areas is not the hot summer, but the poor water management in our country and the thefts, as well as the small hydroelectric plants on the dams.
"Zrebchevo" and "Silk" are emptied, why? Because they made electricity in the winter, instead of letting themselves fill up", Kumanov gave an example.
And pointed out:
"The dam "Poroy", which is used for irrigation and drinking water, has now been drained in the middle of summer in the greatest heat to repair the tower by the wall. Just when the water got fried and the fish died. And this was done with the permission of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, given that repairs had to be made in the fall in cooler weather. There is insane water management in our country. And now the water is not drinkable on the Black Sea, it had to be drained when there were no tourists. Not to mention that it could be repaired without draining."
He also commented on logging in watersheds, which should have been banned.
"The Ministry of Defense defends these cuttings. There was a project not to cut in the watersheds, they did not consider this project at all. By order of the Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Petar Dimitrov, who now retains his post in “Glavchev 2“, after bringing the entire country into crisis," commented Dimitar Kumanov.
According to him, irrigation is also a problem – "Irrigation systems" - huge losses on their channels and thefts.
"There is theft of water from the rivers and it is for irrigation by installing pumps - and for fishponds as well. We are talking about large growers with hundreds of acres to water. 10 signals have been sent to Strema for illegal fencing for fishponds, and the Basin Directorate warns that they will check them. When they leave, the water is turned on. The next day there is still no water," Kumanov said.
He is categorical that thefts are a major problem, as well as the negligence of the state, because no investments are made.
"The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is informed about these problems, but it purposefully ignores the problems,", claims Kumanov. And he proposes that hydroelectric plants should be conditioned by the plans that they can work when the reservoir is full, because drinking water is before and more important than electricity production.