Priorities of the Ministry of Environment and Water
Environment and Water Minister Nona Karadjova told BTA in an interview that a draft water strategy is expected to be prepared by the end of May 2011. The Ministry is analysing the state of and the need for equipment, the trends of the last eight years and the financing needed in the next 20 years to meet the water requirements of the population and the economy. Analysis will show if water facilities will be managed by basin, and centralized or decentralized.
Enumerating the successes of 2010, Karadjova singled out the drafting of a plan for emission trading allowances, which brought over 140 million leva to Bulgarian companies in a difficult year. The Cancun Climate Summit saw the relaunch of a procedure to restore Bulgaria's accreditation for greenhouse gas emissions trading, on which a decision is to be made in early February, Karadjova said.
In 2011 Bulgaria is faced with a very important decision concerning thermal power plants (TPPs) - whether they can invoke derogation about the right to free allowances in 2012-2020. The Economy, Energy and Tourism Ministry has set up a working group involving representatives of all TPPs to make the best decision.
Infrastructure projects will remain a priority in 2011: wastewater treatment plants in population centres and household waste regional systems worth over 1,000 million leva will be built, the Minister said. In 2011, places with a population equivalent ranging between 2,000 and 10,000 will be invited to apply for investments in sewerage and wastewater treatment under Operational Programme Environment, with project completion set for 2015 at the latest.
The Ministry will also designate new protected areas - a process which has been delayed by two or three years but is to be completed in 2011.
Karadjova said there was public support for enforced community service for violations of municipal regulations on city cleanliness and noise. The possible inclusion of a provision on this in the new Code of Administrative Procedure is under discussion.