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“Lithuania is delaying the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. In 2017, the European Commission warned that Lithuania does not implement the requirements in 54 agglomerations with more than 2,000 population.
According to data for July 2020, 38.5 thousand. the population is not connected to the sewerage networks that are being built, ”said S. Gentvilas at a press conference on Friday.
The minister recalled that Europeans have allocated around 1.4 billion LTL to the Lithuanian population in this area. euros.
“Dividing by 3 million. Population, that is, approximately EUR 500 per statistician Lithuanian, in order to ensure the quality of wastewater management and drinking water supply. If we do nothing, we continue with the same problem, We do not initiate changes in the new laws, we do not speak with the municipalities, the water supply companies, we will receive really significant fines, there are rumors of several hundred million euros, such sanctions for Lithuania. The essential will be decided during this year “, said.
Gentville added that he wanted to send a message to residents.
“If you have your own sewage treatment plant, feel that the inspectors can visit it, ask how often the sewage is removed, ask for receipts to show that those services have been performed.
We will also review the companies that carry out the disposal of these individual wastewater. There will also be control in this direction, “he said.
The Minister said that according to the State Audit Office, up to 300 thousand. the population is not connected to centralized sewerage networks.
“First of all, in Kėdainiai, the EC has a specific complaint about the reconstruction of the treatment plant: that it does not treat the wastewater sufficiently. Kėdainiai waters signed and started the physical works in September, and on January 12, By 2022 the works are expected to be completed, which will mean that the Kėdainiai wastewater will be treated sufficiently.
As for the unconnected settlements, they are mainly located in the Vilnius region, that is, in Skaidiškės, Nemenčinė, Pabradė, Švenčionėliai and Švenčionys. Also in municipalities such as Biržai, Kupiškis, Raseniai.
We have already found additional resources and we are asking the water supply companies to request the Environmental Project Management Agency to connect the last 5 meters to their house, ”said S. Gentvilas.
However, you noticed that this is something very complicated.
“We go to private property, we start investing in a resident’s yard. It is possible to make an allegory with the asphalt: many ask that the roads be asphalted, but they do not really ask that the asphalt graders enter the yard.
However, even for the last meters, we offer financing within the framework of the EU Life program ”, commented the minister.
You can lose money
S. Gentvilas recalled that Lithuania is delaying the implementation of another directive: the protection of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora.
“At the end of December 2020, Lithuania committed to protect at least 100 habitats every year. The Ministry of the Environment did not follow this schedule, we did an inventory ourselves and submitted to the EC 5-6 years ago what our scientists consider important habitats in need of protection.
But we don’t protect them. Nature mainly suffers from this. At the same time, the EC has initiated infringement procedures for a long time and has provided significant fines and penalties, ”said the minister.
He recalled that on Thursday, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Marius Skuodis, indicated that Lithuania will not be able to receive 166 million. EU support for an ongoing railway electrification project.
“In March 2020, the European Commission identified a critical environmental issue related to the project and warned that until Lithuania faces proper regulation of protected areas in which project activities are involved (setting specific targets, etc.) , you will not be able to approve electrification. ” – said M. Skuodis.
S. Gentvilas said that he became familiar with this problem by communicating with the representatives of the Lithuanian Railways and the representatives of Lithuania in Brussels.
“On the fourth working day, as minister, I sent a notice to the EC requesting a meeting on January 20. It will establish concrete actions for this directive. There is a request not to suspend EC support,” he said.
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