Irina Savina, Deputy Mayor of Sofia Municipality:

Alienation was delaying infrastructure

  Mrs. Savina, during the construction of infrastructure one of the main obstacles are the alienation procedures. How does the Municipality solve this question? The implementation of every major infrastructure facility passes through three main stages - design, alienation and construction. The fact is that no matter if a subway, sewer or broken street is to be constructed the time for preparation is much longer than its performance. The problems that we face in the process of design are lack of baseline data and regulatory certainty. The difficulties that we face in the process of alienation are appealing the order in its entirety or its evaluation which can lead to delays in the infrastructure project. To proceed to the production itself, first a detailed development plan should have entered into force. The process envisages for the alienation of public municipal property facility to be previously provided funds. They are pledged as part of the annual budget of the Municipality. The municipal council adopts a Program for acquisition, management and disposition of municipal property in the capital. It is based on Article 8, paragraph 9 of the Municipal Property Act, which defines the sites that include properties that the Municipality should acquire by alienation in the calendar year. How much is the budget of Sofia for this activity? Every year we have a budget of between BGN 15 and 20 million for alienation. The funds are provided for condemnation of property for the purpose of construction of sewers, streets, adjustment of rivers, expansion of cemeteries and others. Alienation procedures are often slow and cumbersome. The main reason for this is that not always property owners agree with the amount of funds that the Municipality has to pay. This leads to lengthy legal arguments concerning the assessment of the alienation order and to freezing of the implementation of the project.