Inhabitants of Floresti district say they were defrauded by the head of the municipal company “Servicii comunale Floresti” (“Floresti Public Utilities”) and they will take to the streets if the authorities do not become involved.

The head of the mentioned company is accused of misusing the money allocated for renovating and extending the water supply and sewerage networks in the district. The accusation was made by unaffiliated Floresti councilor Ion Iavorski, who, in a news conference at IPN, said the money was provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The councilor stated that Floresti district received of grant of €1.9 million for the necessary works. The grant contract provides that new water meters will be installed for end-users and their price will be later included in the water charge. However, “Servicii comunale Floresti” obliges the residents of Floresti district and of a number of villages from the district to buy the water meters and the accessories needed for installing them. The consumers pay by almost 2,000 lei for a water meter.

Ion Iavorski said he received hundreds of complaints from people, who say they are forced to purchase water meters. The head of “Servicii comunale Floresti” bought water meters without consulting the Floresti District Council. The grant represents 66% of the project’s budget, while the rest is the loan.

The councilor also said that no money was invested in the renovation and extension of the water supply system. There are suspicions that the people may be supplied with impure water.

Dinu Bulai, from Rosietici village of Floresti district, said that before the project started to be implemented, the people were told that they will pay by 9 lei per cubic meter of water. But later the charge was raised to 17 lei.

The councilors from Floresti sought help from the competent bodies and were told that the National Anticorruption Center is already dealing with this case. Earlier, another councilor from Floresti informed about this case, demanding that the director of “Servicii comunale Floresti” be dismissed and punished.