Improving the capacity of municipalities of Alpullu and Topolovgrad for prevention and mitigation the consequences of floods in the Aegean basin

The project aims to prevent and mitigate the consequences of floods in the cross-border area of Topolovgrad and Alpullu through improving the conductivity of river beds of Sinapovska River in Topolovgrad municipality and of Pancarköy river in Alpullu.

Within the project joint capacity building training for municipal employees for risk prevention and disasters’ management and awareness raising training for local population about its role on disasters prevention and causing will be conducted. The project invisages execution of repair and restoration works for improvement the conductivity of the river beds of Sinapovska River in Topolovgrad Municipality and of Pancarköy River in Alpullu.

The implementation of the project will contribute to mitigation of consequences of floods in the cross-border area and increasing safety of the local population in Sinapovo village and town of Alpullu through reducing the risk of life-threatening disasters.

Project status: Finished

The project partners have implemented the activities according to the schedule.

Through implementation of the project Municipality of Topolovgrad and Municipality of Alpullu have been given the opportunity to unite their strengths and experience in the field of prevention and mitigation of the effects of floods in the Aegean Basin. On the territory of the Municipality of Topolovgrad, the main prerequisites for creating a risk for the local population is the Sinapovska River, the riverbed of which by 2017 is heavily overgrown with trees and shrubs, the banks of the river have grown uncontrollably, which has led to a gradual narrowing of the main river bed and the river's conductivity has been greatly reduced. Periodic damage to housing, land and property of the population and waste water treatment plant at the end of the village of Sinapovo was caused. The river passes through the territory of the villages of Sinapovo, Dobroselets and Chukarovo, Topolovgrad Municipality, and the population at risk of overflowing the river or breaking the dike is 625 people in total. The problem of the municipality of Alpullu was identical. The Pancarkoy River passes through the city. Before the implementation of investment activities within the project, the river is dirty and full of waste and solids, which is a prerequisite for flooding. The river is threatened by flooded houses, courtyards, a sports complex and pedestrian zones The implementation of the project gave the opportunity for the municipalities of Topolovgrad and Alpullu not only to improve the conductivity of the Sinapovska River in Topolovgrad municipality and the Pancakoy River in Alpullu, but also to provide safety for the local population of the villages of Sinapovo, Chukarovo and Dobroselets in the Municipality of Topolovgrad and Town of Alpullu and to adapt to climate changes. In addition, both municipalities managed to increase the capacity of the local population and municipal administrations in the area of prevention and mitigation of the consequences of natural disasters with focus on floods, by conducting joint trainings in both municipalities.

Project materials:

Project promotional materials are available HERE.

The project leaflet is available HERE.

Project products:

The brochure elaborated under the project is available HERE.

The presentation from the Final press conference held in Topolovgrad on 20 March 2019 is available HERE.