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Are floods caused by heavy rainfall, negligence or human activity?

Eng. Toma Belev: For 30 years we have been drawing the wrong cadastral maps, putting the lives of our citizens at risk

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Photo: zelenizakoni.com

Almost a year after the floods that killed four people in the coastal municipality of Tsarevo, the causes of the disaster are still being investigated. An independent analysis carried out as part of the Green Laws initiative by Eng. Toma Belev, former deputy minister of ecology, claims that human error was at the root of the problem. "If the flooding was caused by rainfall, which in itself is a natural process, then the human and material losses are a result of the lack of preventive measures, i.e. a result of human inaction, and in the case of the bridges and the construction of houses over the flood terraces - a result of active human action".


Rainfall in recent years has indeed been concentrated in a short period of time, increasing the risk not only to infrastructure but also to people. On the other hand, there can be no floods if there are no causes, says Eng. Toma Belev:

"The reason is that the floods were caused by rivers that don't officially exist," the ecologist said in a special interview for Radio Bulgaria. "These rivers are not included in the cadastre, the general spatial plan, the river basin management plan or the flood risk management plan. In fact, the inflow came from agricultural, forest and urban areas where, according to the plans, there were no water bodies such as rivers.  And this is one of the reasons why there has been so much destruction and loss of life. If these water bodies had been properly identified in the plans, the construction related to the urbanisation of the Black Sea coast would have been restricted, as building on river flood plains is prohibited".


The local municipality has not identified the rivers in the general development plan. The Basin Directorate, when preparing the River Basin Management Plans and the Flood Risk Management Plans, did not map the water bodies and therefore did not identify their flood terraces where building is restricted. At the same time, the local Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water has issued permits to build in the floodplains because there are no water bodies on the cadastral map. 


"After the floods, after the loss of life, a new Flood Risk Management Plan was adopted in which these rivers were once again not included. When we asked why they were not in the plan and insisted that those responsible change the plan, they said they would do so when they produced the next plan in six years' time. This is a totally irresponsible policy on the part of the Ministry of Environment and Water. The construction of settlements on the flood terraces of the rivers continues. Now the new River Basin Management Plans are being discussed and I have to say that once again these rivers are not included."
"We need to take measures for which it is already too late," urges Eng. Toma Belev, warning that the problem of flooding also affects cities, including the capital:


"We are sealing more and more of the urban environment - whether we make a road, whether we build a block, whether we make an alley, even in a park - this sealing of the ground surface reduces the ground's ability to absorb and retain water.  Everything is covered with asphalt, tiles and buildings, forcing water to find its own way. The problem of water bodies not being accurately mapped is extremely serious. The state has neglected this problem and nothing has been done about it. For 30 years we have been working with inaccurate cadastral maps that put the lives of citizens at risk."

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Radio Bulgaria Life    floods Tsarevo human error investigation toma belev

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