UPDATE Several dams and weirs on Romanian rivers could be demolished. The authorities deny the information

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The Ministry of the Environment published a draft order that could lead to the demolition of numerous dams and weirs on Romanian rivers. The legislation is based on the Regulation on the restoration of nature developed by the European Commission.

UPDATE: The Ministers of Environment and Energy have filed a complaint with DIICOT regarding the spread of false information endangering national security. The two deny that the dams will be demolished and say the bill is not linked to European regulations.

Initial news

Some dams, spillways and weirs could be demolished or preserved once the draft order is adopted. Apart from the restoration of nature, an important aim of the measure is to ensure increased continuity of river networks.

The removal of artificial barriers on rivers will be done at the level of the European Union through national restoration plans. The new regulation proposes that member states reach a distance of 25,000 kilometers of free-flowing rivers by 2030, it says truth.

In the new legislation, it is stated that “abandonment of a dam does not represent its abandonment by the owner for any reason and the failure to assume the obligations regarding the maintenance of its safety”.

The draft order published by the Ministry of the Environment emphasizes that the abandonment refers “to dams that can no longer be exploited safely, put into conservation or post-use, by decisions of the authorities, as a result of the significant risk that these works present to the population, social objectives – economic, environmental or property”.

Dams without an owner are included in the obligations of local public authorities, according to the order published by the Ministry of the Environment.

In Europe there are over a million artificial barriers on rivers.