Authorities plan to rebuild the Valea Morilor Lake and adjacent territory

The Chisinau City Hall and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MERN) plan to rebuild the Valea Morilor Lake and rearrange surrounding terrain. The interim mayor Vasile Ursu declared on Monday, September 25, during a press conference that these actions are intended to transform the Valea Morilor Park in a leisure zone where citizens can rest and have a swim without the risk of diseases. These actions have motivated especially by the summer ecologic catastrophe, when because of the high levels of mud tons of fish died. Local authorities and ministries chose to clean the lake by evacuating all water from it. This option was considered to be the most efficient from the ecological point of view, as after the excessive mud, estimated at 2 million cubic meters (approx. 2 m of mud on the entire lake surface), will be removed, the bottom of the lake could be covered with rocks and granite. Also through this method the shores of the lake could be fortified. The deposited mud will be deposited until it will dry on adjacent territory, and after assessment it will be decided whether it could be used as fertilizer. The waters of the lake will be drained through the small river from Durlesti and passes in the vicinity. For the moment the expenses of the project haven’t been estimated, but Ursu claims that these will be covered by the local and state budget. At present the „ Apele Moldovei” state enterprise is elaborating the Valea Morilor park reconstruction project, and this will be consulted with all responsible bodies, including with the civil society. In the finalization of the park reconstruction concept the authorities will decide whether to place or not leisure objectives in the area. The authorities plan to start water evacuation procedures in 2-3 weeks. The arrangement of the Valea Morilor Park has been the subject of a meeting held on Friday, September 22, by President Vladimir Voronin. The meeting was attended by the prime-minister, ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the interim mayor of Chisinau, as well as specialists of the „Apele Moldovei” Republican Group and the „Chisinauproiect” Institute. The date of the Presidency meeting has coincided with publication in the “Official monitor of the Republic of Moldova”, of a Government meeting regarding the declaration of a part of the Valea Morilor Park from Chisinau as state property.