Romanian Govt Assigns Less Money To Flood Defense Works

Postelnicescu presented a document which shows that the sum to be invested next year in flood defense works reaches 2.11 billion lei (EUR1=RON3.5487).

The Romanian Government will assign RON1.78 billion for flood defense works in 2010, and the sum will decrease to RON914 million in 2011.

Postelnicescu said climate change is becoming ever more threatening.

“As you can see, we are experiencing fast weather changes, from rainy days with historical water quantities, to draught, which clearly indicates that climate change poses serious threats,” Postelnicescu said.

Postelnicescu said the national waters administration spent a total RON359.5 million this year until the end of August.

The national waters administration will spend RON75 million by the end of November, to rebuild bridges and other defense systems destroyed by the floods in the north and eastern parts of the country.

"We hope to have all hydro-technical works affected by floods functioning as of December,” Postelnicescu said.

Postelnicescu pointed at massive deforestation and powerful river overflows as the main causes for this year’s floods.

This year’s floods affected 5.859 homes, 71 schools and eight churches as well as over 1,200 national, county and communal roads in eastern and northern Romania.

River overflows determined authorities to evacuate nearly 27,000 persons. Thirty-nine institutions, such as city halls and police departments, were flooded.

Floods caused damages of nearly RON188 million in the agriculture, lands and forestry sectors, and primary evaluations indicate that a sum of EUR500 million is needed in the reconstruction process of all areas affected by floods.

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