In respect to the procedure relevant for the investment proposal of “Kastamonu Bulgaria” near the village of Gorno Sahrane, the law will be strictly observed. This was said by the Minister of Environment and Water Rositsa Karamfilova today at a meeting with the residents of the villages of Gorno and Dolno Sahrane.

Minister Karamfilova reminded that the procedure is at its final stage, there is a decision by the expert ecological council with 11 votes in favor” and 3 votes "against", the final decision being taken by the director of the RIEW - Stara Zagora. “In the event that the decision is referred to the Minister of Environment and Water, as the law allows, my team and I will review in detail whether there are procedural gaps, the need for detailing the investment conditions, as well as for additional consultations. We will check thoroughly both the procedural aspects and the conditions within the decision, so that compliance with the environmental legislation is guaranteed in order to prevent pollution and deterioration of the quality of the environment”, assured Rositsa Karamfilova.

“It is with preventive tools, such as EIA decisions, that we guarantee that everyone has the right to live in a clean environment. I saw and heard that people want exactly that, so I assured them that we will be guided by this right,” Minister Karamfilova told the media after the meeting in the community center of the village of Gorno Sahrane. She reminded that at this stage the intervention of the Minister of Environment and Water would be illegal.

Karamfilova noted that today's discussion is outside the procedure established by the law for public discussions. “We came because we wanted to hear first-hand what citizens' concerns are. During the meeting, I heard many things - some driven by emotion, others extremely motivated. I am amazed at the competence shown by some of the older people. Peoples’ right to be heard will be taken into account”, said Rositsa Karamfilova in conclusion.

“People had the opportunity to ask us questions and we also welcome this contact, so I encourage them to report any factors that they see as endangering their health and life.

RIEW-Stara Zagora as part of the complex EIA assessment has established that there is no health risk,” said the Deputy Minister of Health dr. Toma Tomov in relation to the concerns expressed by the local people.

The regional governor of Stara Zagora Ivan Cholakov, the mayor of the village of Gorno Sahrane Yanko Yankov, the director of the Environmental Protection Agency Rosalina Indzhieva, the director of the RIEW-Stara Zagora Diana Iskreva, the director of the Basin Directorate “Eastern White Sea Region” - Plovdiv Vasil Uzunov and the director of the Regional Health Inspectorate - Stara Zagora Dr. Vanya Karaboydeva and representatives of the investor took part in the meeting.