The Board of Directors of the Union of Architects in Bulgaria (UAB) issued a decisive declaration aimed at addressing the consequences of the tragic flood in the "Elenite" resort village, in which four people lost their lives. The declaration, addressed to key institutions, including the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, and BTA, proposes specific measures to prevent future disasters and to restore confidence in the construction sector.
The drama in "Elenite" left a deep mark, and now the UAB calls for urgent changes. The organization insists on limiting the practice of "partial amendments to Detailed Urban Plans (DUP)", which often relate only to one or two properties, and on encouraging overall planning. This decision comes against the backdrop of widespread concerns about inadequate planning and a lack of a comprehensive approach in the construction sector.
One of the architects" main concerns is related to the safety of rivers and "dry ravines", which represent drainage channels during heavy rains. The UAB insists that all Black Sea municipalities, as well as cities located in the foothills of mountains, including Sofia, carry out checks on these waterways. The aim is to determine whether the measures for protection against construction and ensuring protection from floods have been complied with.
At the same time, the UAB calls for a review of the cadastral maps to establish the current status of ownership and the intended use of the properties along these rivers and ravines. The organization wants to track whether there has been a change of ownership from state and municipal to private and how this change was implemented.
In order to increase transparency and accountability in the construction process, the UAB proposes to include the name of the designer - architect on the information board of each construction. In addition, the organization proposes to increase the role of the UAB and the Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria (CAB) in the municipal expert councils, with the two organizations being responsible for the expertise and competence of their representatives. These proposals aim to strengthen control and ensure higher quality of projects.
In connection with the tragedy in "Elenite", the UAB insists that the names of the architects responsible for the urban planning and architectural developments in the resort village be made public. The CAB and UAB should consider their professional responsibility within their powers. In addition, the UAB wants the institutions to make public all coordination procedures preceding construction in "Elenite", along with the persons responsible for this.
The atmosphere in the UAB meeting room was tense as the members of the Board of Directors discussed the proposed measures. The attitude was filled with seriousness and conviction in the need for change.
The declaration, adopted unanimously by the Board of Directors at the meeting on October 7, reflects the serious self-criticism of the professional guild. "Undoubtedly, we, as a professional guild, bear responsibility for this situation due to our prolonged silence and _serving_ the administration, the investors, the builders...", the document says. However, the architects emphasize, "the overwhelming majority of the college remains true to professional ethics and works with care for the environment and the interests of citizens_q_.
We remind you that after the difficult situation, the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Ivan Ivanov, ordered on October 3 inspections in connection with the crisis situations in some areas of the country, caused by heavy rainfall. Irregularities and violations have already been found in the construction documents in the resort village. The investigations continue.