The Minister of Environment and Water Asen Lichev revoked Order RD-402/09.04.2021, which changed the regime of activities in the natural landmark “Sand Dunes in the Kavatsite area”. He announced this at a press conference today. Minister Lichev announced that at the end of his term - on April 9th, his predecessor Emil Dimitrov signed an order to lift the ban on construction works on the territory of camping sites “Smokinya” and “Veselie”, which are in a protected territory.

The protected territory in the area “Kavatsite” (it includes the camping site “Smokinya” and part of the former camping site “Veselie”) was declared in 1984 with a decision by the Committee for Environmental Protection at the Council of Ministers. “Emil Dimitrov's order changes the regime for the entire protected territory, allowing the area of ​​the campsites and the beach to be excluded from protection,” explained Deputy Minister Emilia Toncheva.

Minister Asen Lichev announced that, in relation to this situation, today he dismissed the director of RIEW - Burgas Detelina Ivanova, who agreed with the change of the regime for the natural landmark “Sand Dunes in the Kavatsite Area”. Deputy Minister Emilia Toncheva informed the media about the entire documentation on the case in detail.

Minister Lichev also announced that he found 11 directors of RIEWs, national parks, and basin directorates, who had been appointed without a competitive procedure. He added that he did not change them so far because he respects their professionalism and expects them to prove their aptitudes.

Minister Asen Lichev also drew attention to the National Waste Management Plan for the period 2021-2028 that was adopted by the government and thanks to which sanctions from the European Commission will be avoided.

Asked by the media about waste management, Deputy Minister Reneta Koleva said that there is information about landfills with cells that are on the verge of their capacity - Shishmantsi, Calapitsa, Pernik, Gorna Malina, Veliko Tarnovo, Silistra, and Kardzhali. In this regard, the Ministry of Environment and Water finances waste management activities under Operational Program “Environment” 2014-2020 and through the Enterprise for Management of Environmental Protection Activities (EMEPA). They are aimed at building pre-treatment facilities, new regional landfills, as well as expanding existing ones. According to the requirements, prior to disposal, the waste must be pre-treated and recyclable fractions must be separated and sent for recycling in order to reduce the quantities for disposal.

Documents presented at the press conference

Information about unit prices for specific construction works voted by the working group, financed by the EMEPA with funds received as repayment of old debt (accumulated by the water companies, paid through “Bulgarian Water Holding” EAD).