„A ray of hope for the forest and forestry business shone in Garmen yesterday, after the order of the new Deputy Minister of Agriculture canceled the next auction for the sale of wood, set for „our company“ at a price of BGN 500,000 below the market.“
This was announced on Facebook by MP Alexander Dunchev. According to him, this is a chance for the forestry / ie. the state / to make a profit, and for the forest entrepreneurs in the area / or at least those who have survived the last 12 years /, because they will not have to buy timber at speculative prices from „our company“, and the profits will remain in the monopolist, and will be able to have real and equal access to tenders and timber from state forests.
„The forest also benefits from this! Because there is no forest inspector who can stop the illegal logging of the monopoly „our“ companies, which have bought with the state money thick political or institutional protections“, Dunchev commented and added:
„Following the publication of the parliamentary inquiry into forest schemes and the awakening of local businesses, this is the fourth auction to be canceled in the region due to the application of schemes to restrict competition and sell timber at non-market prices. In this case, the attached scheme is the restrictive condition for „local traders“, which limits the number of companies to participate in the tender to those in the municipality. But in practice, only 1-2 local grandchildren, most often close to the mayors, take advantage of this condition. Forest companies from the region alerted about the scheme, with which we sent a parliamentary question to the Ministry of Agriculture, and from there they responded immediately with a letter to the forest.“
Only a month ago, through parliamentary control of the „Change“, another BGN 3 million were saved from a similar „rigged“ auction, and the money recently entered the country, Dunchev said. According to him, analyzes are currently being made of the millions that have stopped flowing from the state forests after the transition from 01.03 to 100% electronic auctions. Dunchev concluded:
„We expect development on parliamentary issues for the controversial public procurement for BGN 60 million for forest roads in the Smolyan forest enterprise, as well as for the competition for a hunting concession in the State Hunting Farm-Kormisosh for a famous media mogul. With the joint efforts of business, incorruptible employees and more and more vigilant citizens, this National Assembly is beginning to benefit more and more for the forest and for the people for whom it is the only livelihood.“
