In „Lyulin” and „Krasno Selo” the containers are overflowing, this is what the whole of Sofia is expecting. This was warned on the air of „The Live Day” on NovaNews by Ivan Takov, chairman of the BSP municipal councilors group.
„I was here less than a month ago and I told you exactly what would happen. In less than three weeks, the three districts – „Izgrev”, „Poduyane” and “Slatina”, will be in the same situation as “Krasno Selo” and “Lyulin”, said Ivan Takov.
“The failure of the mayor and the administration of the Sofia Municipality in the waste management system is extremely visible”, he believes. “Currently, we are again having a conversation about how to save a situation that the Sofia Municipality and the mayor, together with his deputies, have put us in. They are not controlling the situation”, said Ivan Takov.
“On Thursday, we will see a report that provides for “Lyulin“ and “Krasno Selo”, as well as for the three new districts that are expected to have problems from December 1, to purchase equipment through the Municipal Council. The goal is to ease the initial blow that will occur after the garbage collection is stopped,” Takov commented.
And he explained that almost all public procurements are appealed.
„Even if you buy paper clips through the Municipal Council, the procurement will be appealed. In 2 years, they should have gained experience and known that almost all municipal procurements are appealed. And here we are talking about over 500 million leva. Of course, appeals are expected. That is why such a procedure is always started at least a year earlier,” said Takov.
„I am amazed by the calmness with which they work, given the current situation in the city. They have no idea what they will do with the winter cleaning. In about a month, if it snows and the garbage is not collected, can you imagine what a dire situation the city will be in. You can also see the problem with the leaves – in the areas where there is no garbage collection, there is no one to clean them. On January 7, the last contracts expire, which means that 19 metropolitan areas will be in a state of emergency”, said Takov. And he added that the mistake was with the delayed order.
„Otherwise, the talk of „fighting the mafia“ sounds ridiculous, when at the same time the mayor continues to give money to the same companies by extending the contracts. The contracts expired back in April. The six-month buffer period provided for appeals is currently expiring”, continued Takov. „I have also spoken to the district mayors where the contracts are about to expire. They are ready and expect help from the Metropolitan Municipality Council – we will provide it, but these are partial solutions".
„The solution has always been one: for the municipality to take over the entire cleaning of the capital - winter, summer, whatever. This is the only way out", he believes.
The saga with „Lukoil” and can public transport run out of fuel?
„This concerns only the diesel buses that are in the capital's transport system. There are not a few of them, but there are not that many either. I really hope that the supply of diesel for transport will not be stopped. Of course, the majority of vehicles are powered by electricity and methane, so we do not expect such major shocks there. But, of course, always with such a danger, we must think preventively about getting out of the situation," said Ivan Takov. He recalled that a report has been submitted with Spasi Sofia, which urges the mayor to think about a serious investment loan.
„Last year we adopted a report, which is in the amount of 1 billion leva for the replacement of a large part of the ground public transport - trolleybuses, trams, buses, electric buses. Truly a huge transformation", said Takov. „We have currently submitted a report for an investment loan, with which we give the mayor the authority to negotiate with banks for such a loan in the amount of 400 million leva, so that new trams can be purchased, because the procedures have already been carried out, but they are without funding - for trolleybuses, for electric buses".
Expanding parking areas
„Our position has always been consistent – against the expansion of the zones and the increase in prices. Already 10 years ago, in the Transport Committee, I said that Sofia cannot and should not be turned into one large paid parking lot. Raising prices and expanding the zones is not a reform. Reform is the construction of parking lots and the improvement of public transport, the goal of which is to remove cars from the sidewalks and street lanes,” said Takov.