Residents of Delacău will decide by referendum on a sand quarry near their homes
On November 1, the residents of Delacău village in the Anenii Noi district will go to the polls for a local referendum. They will decide whether or not to support the exploitation of mineral resources located less than a kilometer from the village. This issue has been a topic of debate for several years, following a company's request for approval to open a new sand quarry. Local residents and authorities have contested the initiative, citing potential risks to the ecosystem, groundwater, and the village's overall safety.
The proposed sand quarry may be constructed on a plot of land covering approximately 54 hectares. This site is located just 200 meters from several homes, and less than 100 meters from the Nistru and the "Dubasarii Vechi" Nature Reserve. The villagers are concerned that sand mining could cause soil erosion and landslides, putting both nearby houses and the environment at risk.
"If it were located further away, we could accept, otherwise we could be buried alive in our homes because of this quarry."
"It's very difficult. I don't know what the future holds, but we hope it will be situated as far from us as possible. We have worked our whole lives, we are old, and we don't want what we have built to be destroyed. This area is very dangerous; I'm not sure what they plan to do with Delacău."
"Yes, there's nothing we can do here. Things will only continue to deteriorate. Our house will eventually suffer the consequences."
The referendum was initiated after the Delacău Village Council made several decisions regarding a popular consultation on the exploitation of mineral resources near the locality. The council decided to organize the referendum on July 7, and the Central Electoral Commission accepted the request on August 6.
"We went door to door with an improvised questionnaire to gauge the citizens' opinions. There were only a few abstentions; the rest were all against it. We are concerned about the potential decrease in groundwater levels and the impact on the roads that will be affected by the transportation related to extraction," says Valentina Cozonac, a local councilor.
"We have good springs and everything we need. If this deposit is acquired, it will be an absolute disaster. Due to calamities such as heavy rain, the water could become contaminated. Additionally, there are no guarantees that the land won't be taken away, along with our homes. In the event of deforestation or other issues, there is no assurance that the state will step in to help us," states Ghenadie Pleșca, another local councilor.
A private company plans to exploit local deposits and has obtained all the necessary permits to open a new quarry. This same company previously operated another quarry near the village, which was closed in 2019. At that time, the Delacău City Hall opposed the operation and sought a court order to halt it. Now, the company aims to establish a new quarry, and local authorities are hopeful that a referendum will enable them to prevent the project from moving forward. In the same area, the City Hall also intended to develop a 15-megawatt photovoltaic park, but this project was postponed due to the quarry plans.
"We are on the banks of the Nistru River, and while someone may benefit from this deposit, for us it creates more problems. We have already lost three large ponds and a spring. The City Hall and the Local Council, where I have served for three terms, are being pressured and abused by the economic entity," declares Gheroghe Vasilița, the mayor of Delacău.A private company plans to exploit local deposits and has obtained all the necessary permits to open a new quarry. This same company previously operated another quarry near the village, which was closed in 2019. At that time, the Delacău City Hall opposed the operation and sought a court order to halt it. Now, the company aims to establish a new quarry, and local authorities are hopeful that a referendum will enable them to prevent the project from moving forward. In the same area, the City Hall also intended to develop a 15-megawatt photovoltaic park, but this project was postponed due to the quarry plans.
"We are on the banks of the Nistru River, and while someone may benefit from this deposit, for us it creates more problems. We have already lost three large ponds and a spring. The City Hall and the Local Council, where I have served for three terms, are being pressured and abused by the economic entity," declares Gheorghe Vasilița, the mayor of Delacău.
The residents of the village are invited to respond to the following question: "Do you support the prohibition of changing the land use within the administrative boundaries of the village of Delacău for the purpose of exploiting mineral resources at a distance of less than one kilometer from the edge of the built-up area of the village?" The answer options will be "Yes" and "No."
