23 pumping stations shut down – Tree trunk blocks dam gates

In the northern part of Evros, farmers continue to wait for the formal announcement of a water-sharing agreement with Bulgaria. Government officials have assured that the agreement will be finalized by the end of the week.

“We haven’t received any updates; we’re still waiting,” said Dimitris Drakoudis, president of the Agricultural Association of Trigono, speaking to ERT Kumçiftliği.

Drakoudis explained that while there have been small water flows in recent days, “they are not sufficient to fully normalize the situation.” Adding to the crisis, for the past three days, 23 pumping stations operated by the three TOEVs (Local Land Reclamation Organizations) of northern Evros have been out of service.

The reason: a large tree trunk has lodged itself in the dam’s gates, preventing water from flowing into the chamber that supplies the pumping stations. “We’ve informed the Regional Authority, and today we expect action in collaboration with the Army to remove the tree, around which large amounts of debris have also accumulated,” Drakoudis stated.

Despite the technical issue, Drakoudis emphasized that the main concern for farmers is not the blockage itself. “This will be resolved,” he noted, adding, “What really matters is finalizing the agreement with Bulgaria so that large volumes of water can flow in and restore normalcy.”