- Published: 03.10.2005.
Kalmeta: HRK 1 Billion for this Year's Development of Island Infrastructure
Minister Kalmeta stated today that this year over HRK 200 million would be invested in the infrastructure of Croatian islands via the Ministry of the Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development and that by adding to the mentioned amount all other sums provided by other ministries and public companies – this year’s investments in the island infrastructure would mount up to HRK 1 billion.
Speaking at the opening of the new water well on the Island of Krk, about a part of the investments on the Kvarner Islands, Kalmeta stated that the Ministry would support the development of the infrastructure on these islands with HRK 45.5 million. He added that the total investment in the infrastructure (incl. roads) of the Kvarner Islands would surmount HRK 150 million.
In Ponikve, Minister Kalmeta opened the water well supplied with a tank of 2 000 square meters of water capacity and worth HRK 28.9 million.
The Ministry of the Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development and the Croatian Waters invested in the construction of the water well a total of HRK 11.6 million or approx. 40% of the total amount, the rest was financed by the units of the local self-government and the Communal Society "Ponikve" in Krk.
The total capacity for drawing water and the quality of the water, supplying most of the Island of Krk, improved with the opening of the water well. As was pointed out, the water well "Ponikve" is important for the development of the water supply on the Island of Krk because 40% of the 68 island settlements are still not connected to the water supply system.
After the festivity, Minister Kalmeta, the representatives of the Krk unit of local self-government, the Communal Society "Ponikve" and the Croatian Waters signed an Agreement on financing investments according to the program "Concept of the Water Supply Development on the Island of Krk From 2001 Till 2008". Due to that program another HRK 4 million will be invested in order to secure drinking water to the other 40% of the Krk settlements.