About 500 million levs from the budget of Environment operational program will not be used as intended, even though according to all analyzes and estimates the country needs tens of billions to fix environmental problems. The maneuvers are made to gloss over failure of Minister Nona Karadzhova and all those mayors who did not managed to prepare projects for water treatment plants, sewerage and sanitation. So, under the threat to have to pay back resources to Brussels the ruling circles found quick and easy solution, however, behind which shines the only desire to absorb the EU money.
Now the half a billion in question will be redirected to projects for purchase of trolleys, subway carriages, trams and fire trucks. What could be more convenient than that? They will not have to prepare analyzes, studies and environmental assessments nor needed construction projects and permits will be required and there will be no need of supervision. They will simply select a manufacturer and vehicles will come in a few months.
Back in September the BANKER first wrote about how 200 million levs from the budget for ecology will be consumed by the electrical transport in Sofia and Metropolitan of Sofia, the subway operator, but later it turned out that as latge a sum will also go to the Ministry of Interior. But today some communities managed by politicians of the ruling GERB, such as Varna, Burgas, Pleven and Stara Zagora also reach out to the money of the Water sector. They will receive a total of about 100 million levs for the purchase of new trams, and their motive is that thus the air would be cleaner.
The first emergency meeting to coordinate activities between municipalities was held a few days ago in Burgas. The idea of mayors was to work together, as this style of work always makes a good impression in Brussels. The text of the agreement was prepared in the fastest way and will be submitted as an exceptional note for discussion in the respective municipal councils, so that in December cities can officially sign a contract and begin the actual preparation of the project. Leading municipality will be Bourgas, which has so far managed to push all of their submitted proposals under the Environment Operational Programme. Procurer of the order is the company Burgasbus LTD.
Based on preliminary analyzes funds will cover the purchase of more than 100 new trolleys whose unit price is around 900 thousand levs. The vehicles will be distributed according to the needs of the city. Pleven is expected to get most of the money – more than 40 million levs, which can go to purchase at least 40 trolleys. For Varna will go 30 vehicles, 22 others are scheduled for Burgas, while Stara Zagora will receive only eight.
If there are no delays in the procurement process, the new trolleys will be available in late June 2013. They will have a built-in system for the allocation of energy that will offset losses from waiting at an intersection.
Not to miss is the fact that Varna, Burgas, Pleven and Stara Zagora will also be awarded tens of millions levs for the modernization of their urban transport under the Regional Development operational programme. Under this scheme, for example Burgas will get eighteen new 28-metre-long diesel buses and 39 twelve-metre methane-fueled ones. For this purpose, a contract with Solaris Bus and Coach SA has even signed. The company will receive just over 16.3 million levs for the diesel vehicles, which makes about 580 thousand levs each and 19.8 million for the methane ones – 500 thousand levs each.
On November 28 Varna announced a procedure for upgrading its public transport, which is funded with 50 million lev from the Regional Development. The administration of the city has decided to order 30 low-floor diesel buses for 150 passengers, 20 other smaller ones – for 95 people and another 20 running on methane. Almost half of the budget will go with the first type of buses. Manufacturers and dealers of such vehicles may submit tender bids by January 14, and the planned delivery is 270 days after the conclusion of the contract.
The other two municipalities are still at an early stage in the preparation of projects. Pleven has just started looking for a consultant to assist in the developing of the tender documentation. Stara Zagora has not done anyhting.
Rulers believe that in the diverting money from the environment programme for the purchase of new vehicles, there’s nothing wrong, and that the fact that cities have quite a few tools for theis purpose in the Regional Development Programme was only a plus for the citizens. The explanation of the Minister for EU Funds, Tomislav Donchev, for example is that the new trolleys will be to the benefit for everyone, and environmental impact of them is undeniable. No doubt this is true, but the question remains when and how much money will be needed to build the much-needed treatment plants and sewerage networks, which Brussels has set concrete deadlines for? No wonder if after a few years Bulgaria ends up having to pay huge EU fines because in their haste to absorb more money from the OPs rulers have deviated from the objectives of the European Union.
The BANKER
