ALL OUT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSAULT ON INLAND WATERWAY TRANSPORT

A report published by the World Wide Fund last month depicts environmental problems for nearly all infrastructure projects along the Danube, awkwardly saluting the failure to implement the European policy for promoting green transport modes.

WWF claims that every initiative aiming at improving navigation conditions creates environmental disorder, failing to admit that careful prepared projects would be lesser wrongs in the big picture of harmful transport. The critiques are aimed at Ukraine’s Bystryi canal in the Danube Delta, currently dormant, but still affected by dredging works. Romania’s project along the Calarasi-Braila stretch is also mentioned, although in milder terms. The environmentalists don’t miss Hungary’s ill-fated attempt to get EU money for works along its 380 km stretch, considering it a hasty, threatening action. Austria is also criticized for its plans to deepen the river, while Germany’s intentions to dam the Straubing-Vilshofen are attributed with alarming proportions.