Chisinau prosecutors unveil illegalities related to Valea Morilor Park

The reconstruction works of Valea Morilor Park in Chisinau started with a series of illegalities. The conclusion belongs to the municipal prosecutor's office after investigating the site, following notifications from local councilors, but also after suppositions that the lake mud would contain noxious substances, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The works were started by totally neglecting the procedures envisaged for such cases,” said Vitalie Apostu, the deputy prosecutor of the municipality, who presented a report before the Chisinau Municipal Council on July 17 as to the reconstruction works at Valea Morilor. According to him, there was no CMC decision, neither any authorization by entitled authorities as to start the works. “The authorization has not been issued up to present,” Vitalie Apostu specified. According to the prosecutor, the auction to evacuate the mud was held in June 2007, half a year after the works had started, as the tender was won by SA “Autocomtrans” which, by then, had already carried out a part of works. At the same time, the project started, but the implementing company did not have the relevant endorsements from a number of ministries and agencies. Neither the ecological expertise of the areas was made. The works already performed at Valea Morilor are assessed at 16 million lei, half of it being invested by a company SRL named “Consantrans”. Vitalie Apostu says there are many doubts as to the way in which the accountancy related to the project has been conducted. When checking up the site, the prosecutors found that the sand, earlier carried to Valea Morilor, was taken then to a site on Petricani street in Chisinau. The prosecutor said the sand was carried by SRL “Consantrans”. Later they found there was no contract between SRL “Consantrans” and the beneficiary of the Petricani site. SRL “Consantrans” is founded by the SA “Autocomtrans”s manager and his wife. The Chisinau prosecutor's office has not yet finished the research, but sued a number of decisions related to the public procurement procedures. The idea of re-building the Valea Morilor area and cleaning lake emerged after all the fish died in the summer of 2006. The Chisinau City Hall and the Environment Ministry proposed then to evacuate the water and the mud, and to lay granite slabs on the bed and banks. The Valea Morilor Park and lake were built in 1952 on a total surface of 102 ha.