A plot of 27 ares located behind the Culture Palace of Railway Workers in Chisinau, which in 2007 was allotted by the Government to master Nicolae Botgros for building sociocultural facilities there, was the key subject discussed in public consultations on August 24. During the discussions, Chisinau councilors, representatives of civil society and the Palace’s director accused Nicolae Botgros of intending to construct two apartment buildings with hotel areas near the cultural building. People living in the area support the construction of facilities there as they hope it will be thus cleaner in the quarter, IPN reports.

Aliona Ciocoi, urban architect of the Design Institute “Chisinauproiect”, said the plot was allotted in 2007, but hasn’t been yet used owing to the shortage of funds. Recently, Nicolae Botgros, who manages the national fiddlers’ orchestra, signed a partnership contract with an association that is ready to erect the cultural building and two blocks with hotel areas there.

“The given plot is not situated in the green area of the Palace of Railway Workers. The cultural center will be by four stories higher than the Palace of Railway Workers, while the apartment buildings by two stories higher than the sociocultural facility. The works to relocate the water and sewerage networks are being coordinated. There are no heating pipes there,” stated Aliona Ciocoi.

Aurelia Hancu, director of the Palace of Railway Workers, said she is against the construction of blocks with hotel areas behind the Palace as the plot was allocated for building a cultural facility there. Besides, there is a bunker under this plot.

Activist Victor Chironda in the debates said that in the absence of discussions in the Chisinau Municipal Council, the project may not be accepted. The company asked to be allowed to fell trees in the area in March, but its request was rejected for the reason that the plot was in the green area of the Palace of Railway Workers. As a result of the mid-April snowfalls, the company was allowed to cut down 28 trees on the pretext of needing to remove the seriously damaged trees.

Vladislav Dobroviceanu, representative of the company responsible for the construction works, said the works haven’t been launched because the project is only debated and is to be examined by the Chisinau Council. The plot was fenced in accordance with the plan for setting up the building site. The bunkers are indeed within the perimeter of the plot.

Attending the consultations, a group of people living in the area said they are for building the cultural facility and two blocks there as the area will be cleaner then. All the objections stated in the public debates were included in proceedings and annexed to the project.