The values of dirty air in Sofia are twice the norm. This is not a small thing. We have long-standing problems with air that require long-standing solutions. This is one of my priorities. This topic cannot wait. This was stated by the mayor of Sofia Vasil Terziev on the air of "Face to Face" on bTV.
„Several things need to be done in three directions. One is the dust, for which measures are being taken by the building control, we are washing more than in previous years. All district mayors are trying to work actively on this issue. The Sofia Inspectorate is much more active on this issue – for the first time we fined a company 50,000 leva. The size of the fine and its collection predetermines recidivism“, he explained.
“The burning of wood, coal, textiles and tires is the second pollutant. We are fighting it through the low-emission zone for the center, we are proposing the replacement of heating appliances. Today there are over 110 inspections and 7 acts for illegal burning of garbage, cases of using a similar type of heating in the low-emission zone. We are investing more and more to monitor this. There are serious problems – in certain neighborhoods there are many illegal buildings. The other pollutants are cars. We are working on greater electrification of the SO park, the low-emission zone and other measures have also been taken“, he added.
He also commented on the incident with the 19-year-old driver who was injured when a tree fell on Vitosha: “The cleaning of the trees on Vitosha is the responsibility of the Southwestern Farm. Our commitment is to remove fallen trees that hinder public transport. Otherwise, it is not the SO's commitment. This is not an accident – if you go on the road to Bansko or Borovets, you will also see fallen trees.“
Terziev announced that he had vowed that there would be major changes on the Vitosha issue and that there would be a lift. “The lift must be implemented with the current owner of the facilities. Any other solution would be years in the future. Talks are underway with all institutions. We are looking for an intersection of public interest, private interest and the preservation of the park, because the three are not always in the same direction.
„With „Toplofikatsiya“ we are managing to the point where our strength is at its limit. Debts are accumulating, accidents are occurring, the company is not being modernized. The path is clear – we must work with the state to restructure the debt and we must find an investor who will provide the necessary over a billion euros for investments, and manage it in a way that the company becomes profitable without disrupting social services“, the mayor of Sofia also said.
The mayor of the capital also commented on the suspension of night transport in the city: „In other European cities there are up to 20-30-40 night lines. It was expensive, unprofitable – the data show that passengers are increasing. We should not close the few lines we have, but we should think about preserving night transport and expanding it - how to make a line to the airport, where there are many working people and thousands of passengers who land at hours without public transport and their only alternative is taxis.“
He also drew attention to the changes in the Sofia City Council: “I am a pragmatic person who is guided by the final results. Nothing is personal to me. Sometimes the chemistry between people does not work out, we have disagreements in direction or failure to cope with obligations. The fact is that we have good relations with all the people we released.“
Regarding the removal of some of the district mayors of the capital, Terziev emphasized: “We are waiting for the decision of the Supreme Administrative Court. All deadlines have expired. Electoral justice. A lot of energy is wasted in all sorts of such gripes and in creating problems instead of finding solutions.“