WORKS ON CROATIAN ECOLOGY PROJECT TO BEGIN BY YEAR'S END

SPLIT, Sept 12 (Hina) - Construction works on the currently biggest ecology project in Europe, "EKO Kastelanski Bay", will begin later this year, the managing director of the agency in charge of the execution of the project, Nikola Grabic, told reporters in the southern Croatian port of Split earlier this week. The initial works on the project, which is worth DM300 million, will include the construction of a sewage system from Split to Solin and a water-supply system which will cover Split, Solin, Kastela, and Trogir. Grabic said most of the preliminary work, including research, project-making, and the settlement of property relations, has been completed. He said the preliminary work cost DM20 million which he added was considerably less than planned. Most of the money was ensured by the Croatian government from the state budget, the rest with loans granted by the World and European Banks. Some 200 persons were included in the preliminary works, while next year, when construction will be in full swing, more than 2,000 will be employed, Grabic said, adding this would be of outstanding significance given the high rate of unemployment in Split-Dalmatia County. (hina) ha