The National Environmental Center and the Youth Coalition “Love your river!” have launched a campaign to save the Byk River, calling on the population to join in.
“The situation of many rivers in Moldova, like those in the central, southern and northern districts, is alarming. The rivers are polluted and the volume of water in Moldova’s lakes, rivers and ponds tends to decease, but the most alarming situation is on the Byk River,” Ina Coseru, head of the National Environmental Center, said in a news conference at IPN.
The most serious problem is the pollution of the river segment that crosses the capital city. “In fact, the river dies namely in Chisinau municipality. The worst situation is beyond the bridge on Ismail St, between the streets Varnita and Calea Basarabiei, right before the Wastewater Treatment Station. The water in the river is already very toxic,” said Iuliana Cantaragiu, an expert of the National Environmental Center.
To remedy the situation, the National Environmental Center and the Youth Coalition “Love your river!” will take a series of measures this autumn. On September, trees will be planted near the river between Anenii Noi town and Bulboaca village to protect it. Owing to the low volume of water upstream Chisinau, several springs in the upper course of the river will be laid out and will be connected to it. In Telemeuti village of Calarasi district, there were laid out three such springs.
The head of the National Environmental Center said a partnership was established with the State Ecological Inspectorate and the General Police Inspectorate within which raids are weekly performed on the Byk River in Chisinau to fine the drivers who wash the cars in it. Iuliana Cantaragiu criticized the drivers and taxi firms whose employees do this. She said the local authorities of Chisinau municipality do not become sufficiently involve and often shift the blame onto the Chisinau Ecological Agency at a time when the Agency’s role, as the role of the Inspectorate, is to penalize, but the penalties not always produce the expected result.
Though the water upstream the capital city is very polluted, it is used in irrigation and to water the cows. For this reason, a water reservoir for domestic animals will be built in Calfa village of Anenii Noi district. Mayor of Calfa Ludmila Ceaglic said the morbidity among the population increased namely because the water in the river is polluted.
The activities to save the Byk River will be staged within the campaign “Love your river!” that is implemented with the assistance of the Democracy Grants Program of the U.S. Embassy in Moldova and co-financed by EcoCatalyst Foundation of the United States.
