The councilors of the Party of Socialists on the Chisinau Municipal Council (CMC) called on the Government to take a decision by which to transfer the Byk riverbed under the management of the municipality of Chisinau so that the CMC could approve draft decisions concerning the rehabilitation of the riverbed, including the decision to access loans and grants, IPN reports.
In a news conference, municipal councilor Victor Polyakov said that at the moment, in accordance with the law on the delimitation of public property, all the rivers and ponds are state property. For the Chisinau City Hall to start to manage the Byk riverbed, the Government must transfer the portion of the Byk riverbed located on the territory of Chisinau under the management of the local authorities.
Alexandr Odintsov, who heads the Socialist group on the CMC, noted that this is an important project that is necessary for Chisinau. The group is ready to support it and pleads for transparency in investment. “If it is municipal territory, we are obliged to take care of it. If it belongs to the state, it is misuse of funds by the local authorities,” stated the councilor, noting that €5 million of 25% of the estimated sum of €20 million is intended for consultancy, expertise and designing, but the detailed costs weren’t presented to the councilors and this is unacceptable.
Earlier, mayor general Ion Ceban said that the Socialist and PAS councilors on the CMC voted against the large-scale project to rehabilitate the Byk River. “The 240 million lei that was to be allocated for rehabilitation, modernization and protection from floods of the Byk River, 80 million lei is offered by the EU in grant funding for this project, will not reach the municipality and the residents of Chisinau for rehabilitating the Byk River,” stated the mayor.
