BĂNEASA INVESTMENTS World Bank co-financed infrastructure works in Băneasa are two thirds complete

Alina Toma Vereha

Officials of "Băneasa Investments", the company involved in the controversial Băneasa project in the northern area of Bucharest, say that two thirds of the infrastructure works in the Băneasa area, co-financed by the World Bank and the Mayoralty of Bucharest, have already been completed. Officials of "Băneasa Investments" said: "Right now we don"t have official information on the letter sent by the World Bank to the Mayoralty of Bucharest, concerning the infrastructure works in the Băneasa area and the suspension of the payments. Thus we are officially requesting information on this issue from the Mayoralty of Bucharest".

According to a press release sent to our editors, the infrastructure financed by the World Bank includes roads, sewers systems, water mains. The investment is borne by the General Mayoralty (35%) and the World Bank (65%) in order to render Bucharest"s Northern Area - which spans most of Districts 1 and 6 - viable, and not just of the Băneasa project. "This an integrated community project and its functionality depends on its full completion. Failure to finalize the project because of the Mayoralty of Bucharest could negatively affect the entire northern area of Bucharest, and not just the Băneasa area", the quoted source says.

All the infrastructure works that are financed by the World Bank project are being done exclusively on the Băneasa plots of land which are owned by the mayoralty. "According to our information which is currently available, we don"t see any connection or relationship between the ongoing investigation by the National Anticorruption Department and the project co-financed by the World Bank for the infrastructure works pertaining to Bucharest"s Northern area", the management of "Băneasa Investments" said.

In the beginning of 2006, the city counselors approved the World Bank loan for the utilities in Bucharest"s Northern area. Mayoralty councilmen of the Social Democrat Party (PSD) at the time accused former Bucharest mayor, Adriean Videanu, that he was going to use the municipality"s money to further the luxury project in Băneasa. They said that "Băneasa Investments" in 2005 donated some 30 hectares of land to the municipality, a plot which was later declared as serving a public purpose. The PSD councilmen said that by doing this, the mayoralty made a commitment to provide the land with all the necessary utilities. At the time, the city councilmen of the Democratic Party (PD) and National Liberal Party (PNL) said that the donation decision does not involve any financial engagements for the mayoralty.

Eventually, the row died down and the loan was approved. The draft decision for the approval of the loan from the World Bank provisions the construction of water and sewer grids in the areas of Băneasa, Odăi, Vatra Nouă, Străuleşti, Giuleşti Gară and Giuleşti Sârbi. The former mayor Adriean Videanu said that the loan does not burden the municipal budget because it is granted by the World Bank to the Ministry of the Environment and is guaranteed by the State.

COSMIN GHIDOVEANU