Croatian dam plans could threaten River Drava’s ecology in Hungary, says deputy ombudsman

Budapest, March 22 (MTI) – Hungary’s deputy ombudsman in charge of future generations has warned against the ecological damage dams planned by Croatia on the River Drava may pose in Hungary.

In a statement on Tuesday, World Water Day, Máté Szabó cited recent reports about Croatian plans to build five dams on the border river and widen its bed to make it suitable for large ships along its lower sections. He urged diplomatic steps to be taken to prevent the project.

The Drava is one of the best ecologically preserved rivers in Europe. Its entire section in Hungary is protected as a nature conservation area, Szabó said in the statement released by the office of the ombudsman for fundamental rights.

The deputy ombudsman called on the Hungarian government to notify its Croatian counterpart that the planned project is unacceptable and reaffirm Hungary’s commitment to preserving the cross-border biosphere in its current condition.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters