According to independent MP Zsolt Simon, vice-chairman of non-parliamentary Most-Híd party, the Slovak government is now one step closer to finalising the plan to build a crude oil pipeline across the Žitný Ostrov area that encompasses the water reservoirs for south-western Slovakia, the TASR newswire wrote.
Simon told the TASR that some progress has been made in the legislative process recently, as two draft proposals on this matter have been passed to first reading in parliament - a development which is not good, he warns.
Both pieces of legislation – one on nature protection and the other on environmental impact assessment – if approved by parliament will come into effect as of May 1. Simon added that another bill (on water resources) related to the pipeline case is in first reading and is believed to be scheduled to take effect on June 1. Simon says that there is a possibility that governing coalition MPs might still amend the bill on water resources without any obstacles in their way. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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