Minister for Economy and Industry Bogdan Bogdanov and Minister for Agriculture and Food Kiril Vatev, together with representatives of all responsible state institutions, identified urgent measures for the repair of the Ogosta dam. It was attended by representatives of the State Consolidation Company (DKK), Irrigation Systems EAD, the State Agency for Metrological and Technical Surveillance (DAMTN), Montagi EAD, MP Vanina Vetsina, experts and engineers.
At the meeting in the Ministry of Economy, everyone agreed on the need for urgent repair of the dam so as to minimize the risk to the population from a possible overflow. A clear plan of action has been identified between the responsible government institutions. By the end of next week, a copy of the documentation for the repair will be transferred from the State Commission for Agriculture and Food to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, which owns the Ogosta dam, and within a month a public tender should be announced under the Public Procurement Act for the selection of a contractor. A project and a building permit have been prepared, it became clear at the meeting.
‘After an inspection, it was found that the construction permit for the Ogosta dam expires in April 2025. We need to quickly set in motion the documentary procedure between the institutions so that we have a clear plan for the repair of the dam’, said Economy Minister Bogdan Bogdanov.
‘Over the years, the repair of the Ogosta dam has not been prioritised and the money has been spent’, said Minister for Agriculture and Food Kiril Vatev. In his words, urgent action is needed so that the risk of possible emergency situations is reduced.
The meeting also discussed the possibilities of providing partial financial resources for the repair of the dam, as according to preliminary estimates about BGN 10 million will be needed.
Emphasis during the meeting was also placed on determining what the dam will be used for. In this regard, the Ministry for Agriculture and Food has launched a procedure for the analysis and assessment of the dam of the Ogosta dam.
This is the second meeting to be held on the subject at the Ministry of Economy and Industry. It should be recalled that a month ago the experts identified specific steps to be taken in the renovation. According to them, repair of the water slope of the wall should be started. Among other urgent works are the repair of the drainage channel, the anti-filtration curtain and the clearing of the dry slope of the dam, for which there are prescriptions issued by DAMTN.