At the beginning of the week from the civil association “For the Nature in Bulgaria” flooded the responsible government departments and the media with a letter, which warned that it has already begun illegal construction of a new lift in the National Park “Pirin”. Green movement announced that the building of a new six-chair gondola lift in place of the three-chair lift already going with full steam. They accused the concessionaire of the ski area – “Ulen” AD, for making another attempt to grab territories, exclusive state property, and in a situation that there is no permission to expand the clearing.
In a written statement from the company owner of the lift denied the allegations and announced the modernization is performed with all the necessary documents. And the ultimate goal is the renovation of the lift to be completed before the new ski season.
The Mayor of Bansko Georgi Ikonomov also made a statement that planning permission was perfectly legal and no trees are being cleared. It turned out, however, that the new permit is not issued to the concessionaire, but to a related offshore company “Marengo Trading”. At the same time it became clear that in the Gondola zone are targeted for felling 88 trees – mainly white fir and spruce. The Ministry of Environment and Water were categorical that will not allow cutting the trees.
Eco ministry will await the final opinion of the Prosecutor’s Office in Blagoevgrad by the signal of environmentalists about whether can be replaced old equipment with new, without carrying out environmental evaluation of the new project.
