ZAGREB, Aug 21 (Hina) - Croatian Public Works Minister Radimir Cacic said on Thursday that despite the long drought, Croatia was in no danger of thirst.
ZAGREB, Aug 21 (Hina) - Croatian Public Works Minister Radimir
Cacic said on Thursday that despite the long drought, Croatia was in
no danger of thirst. #L#
At the part of today's government session focusing on this year's
long drought, Cacic said that citizens consumed an average of 140
litres of water daily, of which five litres for cooking and
drinking. Bathing and hygiene account for most water consumption -
55 litres, cleaning, washing clothes and the toilet consume 60
litres, while ten litres a day are consumed for washing dishes,
watering plants and washing cars.
According to Cacic, of the total 75 percent of citizens connected to
the chief water mains, less than five percent are experiencing
difficulties in supply, such as economising water consumption,
water supply cuts, reduced water pressure, etc.
The main problem are the other 25 percent of citizens, who are not
connected to the public water main. These citizens live mostly in
the continental part of the country, and measures are being taken to
secure water supply to those households.
The minister said that 95 percent of Croatia's water supply came
from underground sources which were not affected by the drought,
nor had there been any cases of pollution.
However, this year's drought, the worst in the last 55 years, has
caused damage in agriculture, fish ponds, hydroelectric power
plants and flood protection facilities, he said.
The long drought increases the risk of floods in the autumn, Prime
Minister Ivica Racan warned.
Data indicate that the level of precipitation has been constant
every year and if the drought continues, one will have to consider
how to deal with the danger of floods in the autumn, he said, adding
the government should receive a report on this matter in two weeks.
The government today forwarded into the second parliamentary
reading a set of laws on tourism. It also forwarded final draft
amendments to the laws on income and profit tax, which envisage tax
relief for investments into research and development.
(hina) lml