Water and Sewerage Operators to bear their responsibility for the water crisis. This is what Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva called for regarding the crisis in Pleven, quoted by BNT. She expects the EWRC, in addition to findings, to start imposing penalties.
According to Delcheva, the new law on water and sewerage operators will solve some of the problems that have accumulated over the years.
The critical situation in Pleven and the hundreds of complaints from the city and the region provoked a sharp reaction from the public defender.
"People are unable to bathe, wash themselves, perform daily needs, including mothers having to boil their babies' bottles with mineral water, which is an unbearable situation, since the right to drinking water is actually one of the basic and universal human rights,", explained Velislava Delcheva.
In this regard, she has sent letters to the regional minister and the mayor of Pleven to take urgent measures.
"They are obliged to provide alternative sources of water, regardless of the reason for the water supply. This means, first of all, with water carriers, tankers, bottled water, water in tubes".
"One of the main problems that they point out and we see in the complaints - the accidents that constantly happen. The water and sewerage operators must be held responsible for this and a lot of money must be invested. This problem has existed for decades, it is not from yesterday and today", the public defender added.
The Ombudsman called on the EWRC to actively intervene.
"In addition to conducting inspections, they must also start imposing sanctions. Here I would also like to mention the draft law for a new water and sewerage law, which we will insist on. The water and sewerage operators should be required to implement their investment plans and monitor the quality of the water."