The authorities will examine all the small rivers in Moldova and will devise a program for cleaning the riverbeds. Such a request was made by Prime Minister Ion Chicu following the floods that affected southern Moldova, IPN reports.

At the start of the Cabinet meeting, the Bashkan of Gagauzia Irina Vlah said that after the heavy rain, several tens of houses were flooded with water from Ialpug River that hasn’t been cleaned for a long period of time. The Comrat mayor’s office needs 2 million lei to initiate the cleaning works.

Premier Chicu said the alleviation of the consequences of floods entails much larger costs. “Such rain can cause serious damage to us all for the simple reason that the small rivers are full of waste. The entire village Hansca of Ialoveni district was affected in July when a small river flooded because it was blocked,” he stated, asking that a program to clean the small rivers should be worked out.

Minister of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Ion Perju said the situation of small rivers is indeed disastrous and examinations showed that in many cases the population builds dams illegally. Waste accumulates near rivers. A massive program to clean the riverbeds is being devised with the assistance of foreign partners.