Bulgaria is facing a serious problem with irrigation. This was warned to NOVA NEWS by Emil Dimitrov-Revizoro, former Minister of Environment and Water.
According to him, a huge crisis in agriculture awaits us and there will be strikes like in Greece.
„Last summer I said that there would be a problem with 4 dams –„Ticha”, „Kamchia”, „Zhrebchelo” and „Koprinka”. For 3 years they were drained uncontrollably. It was clear that sooner or later the truth would come to light. This year, all agricultural dams are empty to 0. That's why they started pumping energy ones too," explained Revizoro.
"I'll give an example of Plovdiv. There are 3 dams for agriculture there. These are “Domlyan”, “Pyasachnik” and “Topolnitsa”. They can hold a total of 370 million m3 of water. Thanks to the actions of the previous leadership over the past 4 years, they currently have 23 million m3. Whatever happens to these reservoirs, this year they cannot be used. Another example - “Belmeken-Chaira” there should be 150 million, but there is 50. The Batashki hydropower road is 400 million, but there is only 160 in it”, he added.
In the program, the former Minister of Environment and Water announced that Greece is paralyzed by a strike because of demands against Bulgaria for water.
„The Greeks immediately built a small dam after the border. There are huge pumps right next to it. For 60 years we have been giving water to Greece under the agreement and we have fulfilled our obligation. Now the years have passed, the agreement has expired, but they want more water. This issue must be regulated externally”, claims Emil Dimitrov.
Regarding the water regime in Pleven, he said the following:
„I was completely nervous because I know what the truth is. It happened before my eyes. The people of Pleven are lying that there is no water and that a quantity had to come from Cherni Osam. When the “South Stream” was being built, 52 or 54 rivers in Northern Bulgaria had to be crossed. Some of them were built with inclined directional drilling. A probe enters from far before the river, comes out on the other side, they put a pipe in and put the gas pipe in this pipe. Only while these probes are being built, bentonite, polymers and other fillers are poured into this hole. “Bulgartransgaz” due to a mistake, reduced the volume of the springs by two times. Then I fired Petar Dimitrov. Vladimir Malinov was also to blame. I am irritated that they did not apologize and did not admit that they had made a mess”.