Two More Major Projects Approved by Brussels 8 May 2009
Thanks to the degree of preparation of the projects and measures introduced by the Government to speed up procedures, the European Commission has approved two further environmental protection major projects, namely, the development of the Hany-Tiszasüly reservoir and the Nagykunság Árapasztó (Spillway) Reservoir. Altogether 7 major projects have been given a nod of approval by Brussels pursuant to the series of decisions that have just been made; moreover, a further 15 major projects have already been approved by the Government and 12 of these are currently awaiting approval in Brussels.
The way in which Hungary has submitted the highest number of major projects in Brussels from among the member states of the European Union demonstrates the success of Hungary’s development policy. These investments are also significant because of the way major investments prepared to a high standard represent responses to the challenges the building industry and Hungarian labour market is facing in the context of the international financial and economic crisis. The two major projects that have just been approved are among the 636 major investments that will create contracts worth 1800 billion HUF for enterprises operating in the building industry during the course of 2009 and 2010.
The two projects that have just been approved facilitate the construction of reservoirs bordered by embankments and equipped with controllable filling and outlet installations built to reduce the flood water levels in the Middle Tisza region. These reservoirs will help keep flood waves under critical water levels and create the opportunity to engage in landscape management better adjusted to the natural habitat. Both major projects are a part of the programme called Continuation of the Vásárhely Plan.
The area designated for the construction of the Hany-Tiszasüly Spillway Reservoir is a part of the flood plain lying between the rivers Laskó, Tisza, Zagyva and Tarna; three local governments, namely, the local government of Jászkisér, Tiszasüly and Pély, are affected by this construction. This reservoir will be built on an area about 56 km² in size and will be capable of receiving 247 million m³ of water. 31 kilometres of embankments will be renewed as an outcome of this development; moreover, water outlet and irrigation canals will also be modernised. Living conditions for some 574,000 people will improve through these flood protection measures.
Expected date of completion of the project: December 2011. The total cost of the project amounts to 24.8 billion HUF, of which 21.1 billion HUF is covered by EU funding.
The Nagykunság Árapasztó (Spillway) Reservoir is located on a 40 km² area and will be capable of storing approximately 100 million m³ of water. The reservoir lies on the left bank the Tisza adjacent to the Nagykunság Main Canal outside municipal boundaries under the scope of authority of 5 local governments (Tiszabura, Tiszaroff, Tiszagyenda, Abádszalók, Kunhegyes). 18 kilometres of new embankments will be built and over 9 kilometres of embankments will be raised within the framework of this investment making the day-to-day life of approximately 580,000 residents of the region safer.
Expected date of completion of the project: December 2011. The total cost of the project amounts to 13.3 billion HUF, of which 11.3 billion HUF is covered by EU funding.