In 2006, the project for the ski resort “Panichishte-Ezerata-Kabul” was remanded by the Ministry of Environment and Waters (MOEW) as most of it fell within Rila National Park. Despite all, the realization of the “rejected project” began in 2007 with numerous illegal actions, also in the territory of Rila National Park, after the dismissal of the Park’s Directorate – Mr. Vasil Petrov, in July.
During the visit we found out that the illegal lift built on a landslide was still transporting tourists. Some of the track pylons were also erected on landslides; many of them were not even dug deep enough and were fortified with piles of soil. This posed a real risk for the tourists using the lift facility and represented a serious precondition for accidents. We were all pleasantly surprised that officials of the Rila National Park Directorate had blocked up the road to “Rilski ezera” hut with their cars, thus conscientiously performing their duties to restrict the access of cars, motorbikes, etc. within the park’s territory. The area around “Rilski ezera” hut had been cleaned, and despite the presence of so many people, it was really clean. Hopefully these measures will be applied on a regular basis and not only at weekends.
The visit to Rila National Park was implemented within the project entitled “Establishing a network of trained volunteers in Sofia and involving them in conservation activities in Bulgaria” funded by NatuRegio program of Alfred To"pfer Academy (Germany).
For further information, please contact:
Lyubomila Krivoshieva
lkrivoshieva@greenbalkans-wrbc.org