Important investments in water, sewerage sector carried out in Moldova in 2010-2012
Prime Minister Vlad Filat on November 6 participated in an international conference on water and sewerage issues in Moldova, according to the government's communication and press relations bureau.
The event is organized by the Environment Ministry, the EU Delegation to Moldova and the Swiss Cooperation Office. Attending the event were representatives of the government, MPs, representatives of the local public administration, as well as over 200 local and foreign participants and specialists in the water and sewerage supply.
In his speech, Filat said that the event is very important, as it is focused on Moldovans' health.
"The time is passing quickly. I have recently marked three years of governing, difficult years, with an enormous budgetary deficit and only with several partners willing to help us. We put the budget on its feet very quickly, we got access to projects and funds, thus setting financing priorities", Filat said.
Filat noted that among the government's priorities are also the quality water and sewerage services for Moldovans.
«I have made it for strategic reasons, as well as for personal ones. Referring to the strategic reasons, one knew long ago that the indicators of access to the quality water, of development of the water clearing systems worsened regularly. We are willing to modernize Moldova together with our partners, communities, local public administration and civil society. It is no easy task, but hardly working we will achieve it. The investments in the access to the water are direct investments in the people's health care and in the citizens' future», Filat noted.
Filat said that over 1,000 km of new aqueducts were built during two years.
«Projects amounted to 31 million euros were implemented in this sector in 2000-2009, whereas 114 million-euro-investments were carried out in 2010-2012, and about 136 aqueducts have been financed from public proceeds. More than a half of Moldovan people consume lower quality water. We have much to work, and we need many resources», Filat added.
Filat also referred to two key-aspects: community power and ignorance.
«The first aspect is related to the community power. It means that when the project got from public money or foreign financing covers only a part of expenses, and the community and local leaders manage to mobilize resources of solidarity without precedent, to involve in building and organizing issues. The second aspect refers to the ignorance versus quality. So important is to set priorities, as important is to provide quality», Filat said.
«The biggest challenge is that everyone should have a personal commitment to the access to water, the responsibility of using the water, the way of building a well or drafting an aqueduct. Namely given the personal commitment of each citizen, leader, head, mayor etc, our citizens will have access to the quality water. So, we will have a modern country», Filat added.
Environment Minister Gheorghe Salaru said that the participants in the event will tackle many relevant issues for Moldova, as well as they will come with solutions and steps the country has to take. He presented the situation in the drinking water and sewerage supply in Moldova, noting that 45 per cent of the people have no access to the quality drinking water systems, and 65 per cent - to sewerage systems. He expressed conviction that the situation in the sector will improve via joint efforts.
Adapted from Moldpres