It is expected to be announced on 15 April whether the construction of the waste incineration plant near the Pavlikeni village of Varbovka will start. This depends on the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC), which has to decide whether it will overturn the decision of the Administrative Court of Sofia Region in favour of Petrurgia company and which gave the green light for the construction of the plant. On this occasion, „For Pavlikeni“ announced on Facebook:
„At the last instance
Next Monday, April 15, the case against the decision of the Administrative Court – Sofia Region, which was in favor of Petrurgia and gave the green light for the construction of the waste incineration plant near Varbovka, will be heard.
It starts at 11:00 in Hall 1 of the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) in Sofia. For those who wish to follow its progress, the case number is 9459/2023.
It is a cassation appeal against the decision of the Administrative Court of Sofia Region. The cassation was requested by „You Decide“ (Ti Reshavash) association, as a representative of the citizens and the Director of the Regional Inspectorate of Environmental Protection (RIEP) – Veliko Tarnovo as an institution.
This is the last court instance that has to decide whether the construction of the waste incineration plant near the village of Varbovka.
How we got here and what happened in a nutshell:
– In the winter of 2022, the Environmental Expert Council of the RIEP – Veliko Tarnovo met on the topic. It was convened at short notice, without representation of the civil community and without the opportunity for the participating institutions to get acquainted in detail with the investment plan, nor with its possible harmful consequences for the environment and people. The plant was approved at this expert meeting.
In this meeting the representatives of the Municipality of Pavlikeni and the village of Varbovka also voted FOR the implementation of the project.
The truth, hidden behind promises of safe production and jobs, soon came to light. A wave of discontent followed, a civil backlash was born. An association was established to give citizens legitimacy in this unequal battle against power, money and corruption.
- In the spring of 2023, a second Ecological Expert Council was held at the RIEP. It said NO to burning tons of garbage daily in our region! Based on this negative opinion came the negative decision of the Director of the RIEP regarding the plant. The investor was denied, the project was stopped, the people of Pavliken breathed a sigh of relief. But for a short time.
- The investor appealed against the suspension before the Sofia Regional Administrative Court. The court ruled in his favour, rejected the refusal of the RIEP and gave the green light to the garbage plant again. The reasoning was that the first meeting of the Environmental Expert Council, which had allowed the plant, should be taken into account.
Then we and RIEP lodged a cassation appeal and so the case went, now at the Supreme Administrative Court.
They tried to refuse us in advance – they presented a contract for legal protection and legal representation for the complaint we filed, worth BGN 5,000. This means that if the case is lost, this huge fee of Petrurgia lawyers will be sought by us, the citizens, in the person of „You Decide“ association.
We invite you, dear supporters, fellow citizens, friends, come on April 15 (Monday) at 11:00 a.m. to the Supreme Administrative Court in Sofia!
Let more people attend the meeting and testify to the civil interest and the right to a life safe for our health! The fight against the garbage incineration plant next to the village of Varbovka continues!“
