Minister Spas Popnikolov presented the state of the main Programmes and priorities in the field of MRDPW

The Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, eng. Spas Popnikolov presented the priorities in his work and the state of the main Programmes in the field of MRDPW.  The check of the state of the ministry shows it is in relatively good condition, reported he. The report on the revised public procurements has been given to the Council of Ministers, as on the part of the auditors no serious violations demanding other institutions’ interference  have been stated. The changes did not lead to problems in the system and it continues to work, added the minister. 

Spas Popnikolov informed that the organization of the upcoming early parliamentary elections in line with the law is a major priority of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.  Another engagement is accelerating the preparation of the EU Presidency in 2018 concerning the infrastructure.  

Minister Popnikolov expressed a high opinion of the implementation’s progress of the Regions in Growth 2014-2020 Operational Programme, but he emphasized that payments under the contracted agreements should be accelerated. It is worked on the activation of the  implementation of the road projects funded under OPRG as well as hastening of the construction of lot 3.3 of Struma motorway. A meeting on the Minister’s initiative between the Road Infrastructure Agency /RIA/ and road branch specialists on measures for optimizing the work on monitoring and assessment of the tunnels and viaducts’ condition will be organized. In short term pot-holes on the most critical sections are coming to be patched up with cold paving asphalt mixtures and more solid rehabilitation of compromised road-beds will begin from March till the end of the month.

The Regional Minister commented that there is overall delay of the tender procedures conducted by RIA in 2016 which has been reported as a problem as it will be worked for its elimination.

The line Deputy Minister Valentina Varbeva announced that the final report on the implementation of the Regional Development 2007-2013 Operational Programme will be transmitted to the European Commission by March 31. She informed that the contracted under Regions in Growth Operational Programme funds are about 50% of its budget and the amount of the disbursed is only 5% that is related to its specificity. Currently the launch of three more schemes under OPRG 2014 – 2020 has been prepared which is expected about May this year, said in addition Varbeva who is Head of the Managing Authority of the Programme.  

She also presented information about the progress in reforming the water supply and sewerage industry.  Minister Popnikolov added that he plans to personally check the progress in  the construction and rehabilitation of  Studena, Luda Yana and Plovdivci dams as the work on water sector is also among his priorities.

The idea of the National Programme for Energy Efficiency Of Multi-Family Residential Buildings  is positive but the review of the achieved and the responses of its end users – the owners have shown some weaknesses which should be refined, said Minister Popnikolov. It was noted that the Programme completed on December 31, 2016 and its resource is finished.

Deputy Minister architect Violeta Komitova also explained that the Programme has a contribution to reducing energy consumption and has a good effect on business.  With the available BGN 2 milliard under the Programme 150 thousand residential buildings  where 340 thousand citizens live are planned to be renovated, added she. Currently 266 projects have been implemented, works on about 500 are about to finish and soon they will be put into operation as works have been in progress on 2022 sites totally through funding under the National Programme for energy efficiency of multi-family residential buildings. She pointed out that according to the analysis on its implementation unreasonably high benchmarks have initially been set, which subsequently have been decreased two times and as a result this problem has been removed. The methodical guidelines for the Programme’s implementation allow some activities to be liable to interpreting – as a consequence activities ineligible for funding have been implemented in some places. There is not a sufficient control, reported V.Komitova. The fact that people making payments – at the Bulgarian Development Bank /BDB/, do not make physical inspection on place and those who make it are not responsible for the fund payments under the Programme was set as a weakness. Actually MRDPW recovers the funds to BDB only after the buildings are put into operation. Measures to increase the control have been taken after this ascertainment. 

Violeta Komitova announced that due to the complex process of the way that the Programme operates and insufficient awareness municipalities have continued to sign contracts for implementation of works on buildings. She reported a growing snow-slide effect interest to the Programme that has led to the fact that besides the buildings with already signed contracts there are about 2000 associations of owners that have applied documents for funding and 2000 more are in process of association. With the provided BGN 2 milliards for its implementation 2022 buildings that have been approved by January 2016 will be renovated. The governing body of MRDPW will work for management and successful completion of the works on the buildings, she summed up.

Deputy Minister  Lyuben Dichev informed that it has been worked on the Targeted Investment Programme for less developed regions support as it is expected to start operating this year.

Minister Spas Popnikolov announced that because of received signals for problems in the work of the Geodesy Cartography and Cadastre Agency form today for its executive director was appointed Mima Chaleva who has to inspect the activity and to set measures for improving the work. She is a master engineer from the Higher Institute of Architecture and Civil Engineering with a degree in Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography, Master of Public Administration from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Master of Law from St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Turnovo with different specializations in the country and abroad. She was Secretary General of the Geodesy Cartography and Cadastre Agency from 2002 to 2010.