Another Major Project Approved by Brussels 5 November 2009
NDA received approval from Brussels on 3 November for the major project "Development of the sewerage system and waste water treatment system in Makó and its surrounding region".
Together with this decision, 12 major projects have now received a nod of approval from Brussels, whilst a further 14 major projects have been approved by the Government, out of which 11 are currently awaiting approval in Brussels
The way in which Hungary submitted the second highest number of major projects after Poland among EU member states, although first in terms of the ratio of the total number of major projects planned demonstrates the success of Hungarian development policy. These investments are extremely significant also because of how major investments prepared to a high standard will represent responses to the challenges the building industry and Hungarian labour market is facing due to the international financial and economic crisis.
Water is supplied through a pipe network – and has been for the past 25 years - in every single settlement in the Makó Micro-region, which, due to the lack of a sewerage network and concurrently to the modernisation of buildings, is creating increasing problems in the settlements of the micro-region. At present, 23% of the households in Makó are connected to the sewerage network, whilst the aim of this project is to connect the entire agglomeration to the network.
The Makó major project approved by Brussels on 3 November, allocated a total budget of 14.1 billion HUF and to be implemented with the help of EU funding amounting to a total of 11.5 billion HUF will improve the quality of life of over 41,000 residents in the region. This project includes extending the the sewerage network in Makó, constructing a new sewerage network in 5 settlements located in the immediate vicinity of Makó – in part directly and in part via the Makó sewerage network – and connecting these households to the waste water treatment system in Makó. The waste water treatment system in Makó will be extended and a sludge processing and placement system will also be developed.
Health risks affecting the population of the region will be eliminated and the general level of pollution and environmental pollution of the Maros basin will also substantially decrease by implementing this project. The level of pollution of the soil and ground water, as well as illnesses associated with this will also decrease by constructing the closed sewerage network and waste water treatment system. The quality of surface waters will improve and the exposure of the flora, fauna and protected areas in the region to risks will also decrease.
By implementing the project called "Development of the sewerage system and waste water treatment system in Makó and its surrounding region", the quality of life, appeal and population retention capacity of the region will substantially improve on the long run. This project may also particularly spur economic development in the region, since, among others, it is highly probably that it will boost tourism in the micro-region following its implementation.